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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPentagon says China missile test in South China Sea 'disturbing'
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon said on Tuesday a recent Chinese missile launch in the South China Sea was "disturbing" and contrary to Chinese pledges that it would not militarize the disputed waterway.
The South China Sea is one of a growing number of flashpoints in the U.S.-China relationship, which include a trade war, U.S. sanctions and Taiwan.
China and the United States have repeatedly traded barbs in the past over what Washington says is Beijing's militarization of the South China Sea by building military installations on artificial islands and reefs.
A U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said China tested multiple anti-ship ballistic missiles over the weekend.
"Of course the Pentagon was aware of the Chinese missile launch from the man-made structures in the South China Sea near the Spratly Islands," Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Dave Eastburn said.
"I'm not going to speak on behalf of all the sovereign nations in the region, but I'm sure they agree that the PRC's behavior is contrary to its claim to want to bring peace to the region and obviously actions like this are coercive acts meant to intimidate other (South China Sea) claimants," Eastburn added. PRC is an acronym for the People's Republic of China.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/pentagon-says-china-missile-test-in-south-china-sea-disturbing/ar-AADKYGc
msongs
(67,193 posts)CentralMass
(15,265 posts)Last edited Tue Jul 2, 2019, 10:15 PM - Edit history (2)
LastDemocratInSC
(3,625 posts)Firing anti-ship missles from the Spratley Islands sends a signal that China intends to control that area of the South China Sea. Those missles are fast, accurate and deadly, especially if a swarm is launched toward a carrier task group. We might be able to stop some of the missles but probably couldn't stop all. And an attack on a carrier is surely a scenario for retaliation on the launch site. It's a nightmare scenario.