US confronts Beijing over control of South China Sea

U.S. Navy photo/Naval Air Crewman 2nd Class Evan Kenny

The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Lassen, above, sailed within 12 nautical miles of Subi Reef, one of several artificial islands Beijing has built in the Spratly Islands, Oct. 27.

Washington seeks to maintain its imperialist domination in the Pacific, and counter China’s growing influence. The Chinese Foreign Ministry condemned the maneuver, saying it “threatened China’s sovereignty and security interests.”

“We will fly, sail and operate wherever international law permits and whenever our operation needs require it,” Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said during a Congressional hearing the same day.

The governments of Vietnam, the Philippines and other neighboring states dispute Beijing’s claim to most of the South China Sea, through which 30 percent of the world’s trade passes. A Philippine military official said it was “about time America showed it remained engaged in this region.”

The White House played down the maneuver, saying it did not assert any “special specific U.S. rights.” Two days later the Chinese and U.S. navies agreed to go ahead with scheduled visits to China by senior U.S. Navy officers and port visits by U.S. and Chinese ships.

U.S. officials had debated for months whether to send any military ships through the waters claimed by Beijing, according to Reuters.

— EMMA JOHNSON