The U.S. government has admitted to flying two strategic bombers close to China′s reclaimed
islands in the South China Sea.
The Pentagon says the B52s were contacted by Chinese air traffic control but continued
to fly their mission as directed.
Connie Kim reports.
In a move that could further enflame tension between Washington and Beijing，... it has
emerged the Pentagon flew two B－52 bombers near China′s artificial islands in the South
China Sea earlier this week.
Pentagon spokesman Bill Urban said Thursday that the B－52s were on a routine mission
in the South China Sea taking off from and returning to Guam， but did not go within
12－nautical－miles of the islands.
Twelve nautical miles around a territory is internationally recognized as sovereign territory，
but the U.S. does not recognize China′s claim to the artificial islands.
Tension escalated late last month after an American destroyer challenged territorial
limits around one of China′s man－made islands in the Spratlys.
The Spratlys are a disputed group of more than 750 reefs， islets， atolls， cays
and islands claimed by China and four other countries， including Vietnam and the Philippines.
The U.S. says the patrols are within its rights under freedom of navigation.
But Beijing has so far held firm to its stance， saying it will ″never allow any country″
to violate its territorial waters and airspace in the area.
The latest patrol comes days before U.S. President Barack Obama′s trip to Manila for the APEC
Summit.
There， Obama is expected to voice Washington′s commitment to freedom of navigation and overflight
in the area.
Chinese President Xi Jinping will also attend the APEC talks.
The White House says no decision has been made on whether to put the South China Sea
issue on the formal agenda.
Connie Kim， Arirang News.