President Xi Jinping of China could cancel his planned US visit in September if escalating tensions in the South China Sea lead to some kind of "accident" with an American surveilliance plane, says the website of Hong Kong's Ta Kung Pao.
China has already lodged a formal complaint with the US after a P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft from the US Navy flew over disputed islands claimed by Beijing in the South China Sea on May 20 and ignored eight warnings to leave the immediate airspace. The aircraft responded that it was over international waters.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying described the presence of US surveillance aircraft as dangerous and irresponsible and said the US could not ignore China's rights. "China's will to maintain sovereignty and territorial integrity is as solid as a rock," she said. "We urge the US to make corrections, keep their rationality and stop any provocative actions."
Fellow foreign ministry spokesperson Hong Lei also told reporters that the US surveillance activity "posed potential threats to China's islands and reefs, making it highly possible to lead to misjudgement, which could cause maritime or air accidents."
"Such action is likely to cause an accident, it is very irresponsible and dangerous and detrimental to regional peace and stability. We express our strong dissatisfaction, we urge the US to strictly abide by international law and international rules and refrain from taking any risky and provocative actions," he said.
Read the full story at Want China Times