{"id":64850,"date":"2018-05-05T06:27:52","date_gmt":"2018-05-05T06:27:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/?p=64850"},"modified":"2018-05-05T06:27:52","modified_gmt":"2018-05-05T06:27:52","slug":"u-s-warns-china-of-consequences-over-reported-missiles-in-south-china-sea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/world-news\/u-s-warns-china-of-consequences-over-reported-missiles-in-south-china-sea.html","title":{"rendered":"U.S. warns China of ‘consequences’ over reported missiles in South China Sea"},"content":{"rendered":"

U.S. warns China of ‘consequences’ over reported missiles in South China Sea<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

The United States has warned China that there will be \u201cconsequences\u201d for its growing militarization of disputed islands in the South China Sea amid reports it has moved missiles to the region.<\/span><\/p>\n

The threat comes as the two nations continue talks to resolve a major trade dispute, and follows a formal complaint to Beijing over lasers blinding U.S. pilots in the Horn of Africa.<\/span><\/p>\n

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders told a news briefing Thursday that Washington was \u201cwell aware\u201d of China\u2019s increased military presence in the South China Sea.<\/span><\/p>\n

She was responding to a CNBC report that China has installed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems on three of the Spratly Islands \u2014 fortified outposts west of the Philippines.<\/span><\/p>\n

We\u2019ve raised concerns directly with the Chinese about this and there will be near-term and long-term consequences,\u201d Sanders said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Confirmation of the missiles could provoke renewed tensions in the area; they would be the first such weapons deployed in the Spratlys, over which Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei also have rival claims to sovereignty.<\/span><\/p>\n

China has not denied the reports. A foreign ministry spokeswoman told reporters Thursday that Beijing has \u201cindisputable sovereignty\u201d over the Spratlys and that \u201cthe deployment of necessary national defense facilities are meant to safeguard China’s sovereignty and security.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe relevant deployment targets no one,\u201d the spokeswoman added.<\/span><\/p>\n

China\u2019s militarization of the Spratlys has been a growing issue for nations around the South China Sea, a vital shipping channel that is also believed to have significant oil and natural gas deposits. In addition to land-reclamation, China has developed air bases and radar and communications systems on the islands. Its aircraft carrier, Liaoning, conducted drills with fighter jets in the area for the first time on Tuesday.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, Beijing on Friday refuted a State Department complaint that a Chinese military base in Djibouti was responsible for shining lasers into the eyes of U.S. pilots landing nearby. The east African nation is used by American forces involved in the war on terror.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Lasers pointed at aircraft have the potential to cause serious harm to the air crew and the surrounding area,” the Pentagon said in a statement. “Two pilots in a C-130 suffered minor eye injuries.”<\/span><\/p>\n

A defense ministry spokesman said the Pentagon\u2019s complaint was \u201ccompletely inconsistent with the facts.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have refuted the false accusations from the U.S. side through official channels,\u201d the spokesman said. \u201cChina has always strictly abided by international law \u2026 and is committed to maintaining regional security and stability.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The dangerous development comes as relations between the two countries have been strained by President Donald Trump\u2019s decision to slap up to $50 billion worth of tariffs on China.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Trump administration has asked China to reduce its trade deficit with the U.S. by $200 billion by the end of 2020, a U.S. official told The Associated Press on Friday, as talks continued in Beijing to resolve the trade dispute.<\/span><\/p>\n

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin sounded a positive note about the talks in a brief comment to reporters as he and other members of the U.S. delegation set off for more meetings with the Chinese. \u201cWe\u2019re having very good conversations,\u201d Mnuchin said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Later, China\u2019s state news agency Xinhua said the two sides had “reached consensus in some areas,\u201d but acknowledged \u201crelatively big differences over some issues.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Source:-https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/news\/world\/u-s-warns-china-consequences-over-reported-missiles-south-china-n871316<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t <\/div><\/div>\n\t\t