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CHINA-BRITAIN-POLITICS-MILITARY
China furious at Britain for South China Sea sail-by
BEIJING, Sept 6, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – China lashed out at Britain on Thursday
for sending a warship close to disputed islands in the South China Sea, where
Beijing has built military installations despite competing claims from other
nations.
The US and its allies have in recent times sent planes and warships to the
area for “freedom of navigation” operations intended as a signal to Beijing
of their right — claimed under international law — to pass through the
contested waters.
China’s foreign ministry said the HMS Albion naval ship entered the area on
August 31, sailing close to the Paracel Island chain, known as Xisha in
Chinese.
The vessel “entered the territorial waters of China’s Xisha Islands without
the permission of the Chinese government,” a foreign ministry spokesperson
said in a statement to AFP.
“The Chinese Navy verified and identified the warship according to law and
warned it to leave.”
The foreign ministry has lodged a protest “expressing strong
dissatisfaction”, the statement continued.
“China strongly urges Britain to stop such provocations immediately so as
not to damage the overall situation of bilateral relations and regional peace
and stability.”
Beijing has deployed a range of military hardware including anti-ship
missiles, surface-to-air missiles and electronic jammers across the South
China Sea, where it has built islets and other maritime features into
hardened military facilities, according to US officials.
In May, China landed heavy bombers on Woody Island in the Paracels, a show
of military might intended to boost its territorial claims in the area.
Woody Island is home to China’s largest base in the island chain, which are
also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan.
Beijing claims most of the resource-rich sea, through which $5 trillion in
shipping trade passes annually, with competing claims from Brunei, Malaysia,
the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1520 hrs