Chinese vessels could ram US warships in S China Sea: Sina

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The People’s Liberation Army may deliberately ram a vessel into a US warship if the US Navy makes further ventures into waters claimed by China, says the Beijing-based Sina Military News, just as US officials confirmed that they have sent a destroyer to pass within 12 nautical miles of one of China’s artificial islands in the disputed region.

The report said the US Navy has since May been sending warships near China’s man-made islands in the South China Sea. But until now, the ships have operated at least 12 nautical miles away from the islands where China has been conducting extensive land reclamation to build airstrips and facilities. The move on Tuesday goes further in challenging China’s territorial claims.

Given that China’s military constructions such as runways on several South China Sea islands are not yet complete and the PLA’s South Sea Fleet is too far away to react promptly, the only option for China is to use nearby patrol frigates to monitor and intercept US vessels that come within what Beijing considers its territory.

Read more: http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news/content?id=20151027000080&cid=1101

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