China Accused Of Deploying Missiles In Disputed Sea

Feb 18, 2016, 01:49

China's Military has deployed a battery of surface-to-air missiles on a disputed island under its control in the South China Sea, escalating tension in the region where Beijing is locked in maritime disputes with several countries.

Taiwan's government and US military officials say satellite images confirm the missiles' deployment. Taiwan's defense ministry spokesman, Major General David Lo, said Taiwan 'will closely watch subsequent developments'.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in Beijing that the reports of the missile deployment are the creations of some Western media and do not reflect the reality of China's activities in the South China Sea.

Indeed, the USA recently sailed guided missile destroyer the USS Curtis Wilbur within 12 nautical miles of Triton Island, another that China claims, after which Beijing promised there would be consequences.

"When President Xi was here in Washington, he stood in the Rose Garden with President Obama and said China will not militarize the South China Sea". China may be preparing to declare an air defense identification zone in the South China Sea, a measure that it is believed to have been considering. Vietnam and the Philippines have large claims, while Brunei and Malaysia have smaller claims.

Elite Dangerous: Arena out now on PC
A total of four arenas will be available with three game modes: 8-player free-for-all, Team Deathmatch , and Capture the Flag . The gameplay is cross-compatible with the Elite Dangerous player community, Frontier added.

"The Paracel Islands are closer to mainland China than the Spratly Islands, which Beijing may see as making the deployment less provocative", the analyst added.

Obama made the entreaty at the conclusion of a US-led summit with leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in California.

He expressed his "hope that China understands that it is important to resolve issues (territorial sovereignty) in the South China Sea, not by unilateral action, not by force, not by militarization, but through diplomacy and working with other countries "Asian".

They accuse China of illegally reclaiming land in contested areas to create artificial islands with facilities that could potentially be for military use.

US officials told CNN that commercial satellite imagery showed the deployment of missile batteries.

Gigi Hadid Is White Hot in the 2016 'Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue'
We all saw the photos of Gigi Hadid gracing the pages of Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue , and if you haven't, you should. The 20-year-old model stole the show in a see-through black bodysuit with her new waist-length locks parted down the middle.

In recent days, China has grown more vocal about its defense moves in the South China Sea, a slight shift from a previous strategy that emphasized the civilian and global benefits of Chinese construction in the disputed region.

Mira Rapp-Hooper, a South China Sea expert from the Center for a New American Security, said it was not the first time China had sent air-defense missiles to the Paracels, but the latest move appeared to be a response to US patrols. HQ-9 can be used to intercept both aircraft and incoming missiles.

China last month said it would not seek militarization of its South China Sea islands and reefs, but that did not mean it would not set up defenses.

Speaking to reporters in Tokyo, Adm. Harry Harris Jr., the commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, said the issue "concerns me greatly".

Google Express is now delivering fresh groceries in San Francisco and LA
You can choose to when your goods will arrive in a two-hour delivery window on the same-day, as long as you don't order too late. Google Express is raising the minimum order including fresh groceries to $35 from $15.