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| Chinese Navy Warships (File Photo) |
After China sent a fleet of ships through the Bering Strait off the coast of Alaska in the run-up to the military parade in Beijing to mark the 70th anniversary of World War II on Sept. 3, the US is considering deploying ships and planes to pass by China's man-made islands in the South China Sea, according to Tokyo-based magazine Nikkei Asian Review.
Five PLA ships passed through US territorial waters when they passed within 12 nautical miles of the Aleutian islands. The US noted simply that it had observed the passage of the ships, that they were proceeding expeditiously and in line with international practice, thus the passage was legal and no cause for alarm. If US ships are to conduct a similar maneuver close to disputed territory claimed by China, however, the response is unlikely to be as calm and measured.
The report also stated that Washington is considering sanctions against China for alleged cyber attacks.
The US Department of Defense announced on Sept. 4 that five Chinese ships had entered the Bering Strait and passed close by the Aleutian islands, passing into US maritime territory. Ships may pass within 12 nautical miles of the coast of other countries, as long as they don't take any military action and Duowei News reported that China had respected this principle.
The report stated that President Barack Obama was visiting Alaska at the time, which suggests that China sending a message to the US ahead of the forthcoming state visit of President Xi Jinping.
Read the full story at Want China Times