US military berates ‘destabilising’ Chinese flights over South China Sea

The US military on Friday slammed ''destabilising and aggressive'' Chinese military flights in the past week in the South China Sea and accused it oframping up tensions.

"The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group closely monitored all People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and Air Force (PLAAF) activity, and at no time did they pose a threat to USNavy ships, aircraft, or sailors," the USmilitary's Pacific Command said in a statement.

Taiwan reported that several Chinese air force aircraft flew into the southwestern corner of its air defence identification zone last weekend, near the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands, including fighter jets and nuclear-capable H-6 bombers.

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Regional security and diplomatic sources familiar with the situation said China's air force was dispatched on missions beginning mid-morning on January23, coinciding with the UScarrier group passing south of the Pratas.

China, which has long geared its military towards defending itself against the United States, was conducting exercises that would simulate an operation against an aircraft carrier, the sources said.

"They purposely conducted the drills when the UScarrier was passing through the Bashi Channel," one source said, referring to the waterway between southern Taiwan and the northern Philippines.

"That was not just meant for Taiwan. Most importantly, China is trying to tackle the issue of the South China Sea: it wants to stop the USmilitary from entering the South China Sea. China wants to diminish the United States' weight in the western Pacific."

On Thursday, the Chinese ministry toughened its language towards Chinese-claimed Taiwan, warning after last weekend's stepped-up military activity near the island that "independence means war" and that its armed forces were acting in response to provocation and foreign interference.

China claims almost all the energy-rich waters of the South China Sea, where it has established military outposts on artificial islands. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims to parts of the sea.

The waters have become a flashpoint in the Sino-USrelationship. Washington regularly accuses Beijing of militarizing the South China Sea and trying to intimidate Asian neighbours who might want to exploit its extensive oil and gas reserves.

China, in turn, regularly bristles at USmilitary activity in the region, saying on Monday that such actions are not conducive to peace and stability in the region.

The USNavy regularly conducts "freedom of navigation" operations by ships close to some of the islands China occupies, asserting freedom of access to international waterways.

The USPacific Command renewed its pledge to continue operations in the region.

"The United States will continue to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows, demonstrating resolve through our operational presence throughout the region," Pacific Command said.