- Title: China says US patrol severely disrupts South China Sea negotiations
- Date: 25th May 2017
- Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (MAY 25, 2017) (REUTERS) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN LU KANG WALKING IN FOR REGULAR BRIEFING REPORTER WRITING NOTES (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, LU KANG, SAYING: "The actions by the U.S. undermined China's sovereignty and security interests, (and) they are very likely to cause unexpected sea and air accidents. China expresses its strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to that. China has indisputable sovereign rights to Nansha islets and the surrounding islands. We always respect and safeguard the freedom of navigation in the waters and air around the South China Sea, but we firmly oppose any country using the pretext of air and sea freedom of navigation to undermine China's sovereignty and security interests." REPORTER SITTING (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, LU KANG, SAYING: "The U.S.' actions bring severe disruptions to the process of negotiations, and can only bring harm and not benefits. China's resolve to protect its sovereign territory, security and maritime interests is resolute. We strongly urge the U.S. to correct their mistake, stop taking further provocative actions to damage China's sovereignty and security interests, (and) avoid impacting regional peace and stability and the overall situation of Sino-U.S. cooperation." BRIEFING IN PROGRESS EXTERIOR OF CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY CHINESE NATIONAL FLAG FLYING
- Embargoed: 8th June 2017 10:27
- Keywords: 12 nautical miles Trump territorial disputes Spratly Islands USS Dewey South China Sea U.S. patrol Chinese foreign ministry
- Location: BEIJING, CHINA
- City: BEIJING, CHINA
- Country: China
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0016IC66VB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:China warned on Thursday (May 25) that the United States risked severely disrupting negotiations between stakeholders in the South China Sea after a U.S. Navy warship sailed within 12 nautical miles of an artificial island built up by China in the disputed waters.
U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the USS Dewey passed close to the Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands, among a string of islets, reefs and shoals over which China has territorial disputes with its neighbours.
The U.S. patrol, the first of its kind since October, marked the latest attempt to counter what Washington sees as Beijing's efforts to limit freedom of navigation in the strategic waters, and comes as U.S. President Donald Trump is seeking China's cooperation to rein in ally North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.
Territorial waters are generally defined by U.N. convention as extending at most 12 nautical miles from a state's coastline. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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