U.S. vows to continue patrols after China warns spy plane

[Bosonic]

Source: Reuters

The United States vowed on Thursday to keep up air and sea patrols in international waters after the Chinese navy repeatedly warned a U.S. surveillance plane to leave the airspace over artificial islands China is creating in the disputed South China Sea.

...

The senior U.S. diplomat for the East Asia, Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel, told a media briefing in Washington the U.S. reconnaissance flight was "entirely appropriate" and that U.S. naval forces and military aircraft would "continue to fully exercise" the right to operate in international waters and airspace.

He said the United States would go further to preserve the ability of all countries to move in international waters and airspace.

"Nobody in their right mind is going to try to stop the U.S. Navy from operating - that would not be a good bet," he said.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/21/us-southchinasea-usa-china-idUSKBN0O60AY20150521

[loooneranger]

1. We should.

China can't just arbitrarily decide that international waters now belong to them.

[Rolando]

2. China cannot afford

to oppose the U.S. militarily or economically or otherwise. Wrong-headed dictatorship (by committee). I lived there a year (being watched). I know them.

[shockedcanadian]

3. It's International waters...

Sounds like the Chinese may have something to hide. They better hope the Japanese don't start to rearm.

[Bosonic]

4. China says U.S. actions in South China Sea 'irresponsible, dangerous'

China says U.S. actions in South China Sea 'irresponsible, dangerous'

China said on Friday it was "strongly dissatisfied" after a U.S. military plane flew over part of the South China Sea near where China is building artificial islands, and called on the United States to stop such action or risk causing an accident.

The Chinese navy issued eight warnings to the U.S. P8-A Poseidon, the U.S. military's most advanced surveillance aircraft, when it conducted the overflights on Wednesday, according to CNN, which had a team on board the U.S. aircraft.

China claims 90 percent of the South China Sea, which is believed to be rich in oil and gas, its claims overlapping with those of Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said the Chinese military drove away the U.S. aircraft, in accordance with relevant regulations, labeling the U.S. action a security threat to China's islands and reefs.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/22/us-usa-china-southchinasea-idUSKBN0O70MO20150522