US’ South China Sea naval patrols threaten sovereignty: Beijing

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BEIJING, China yesterday said it opposed action by other countries, under the pretext of freedom of navigation, that undermined its sovereignty, after a US aircraft carrier strike group began patrols in the contested South China Sea.

The US Navy last Saturday said the strike group, including the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier the USS Carl Vinson, had begun “routine operations” in the South China Sea, reported Reuters.

“China always respects the freedom of navigation and overflight all countries enjoy under international law,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a daily news briefing. “But we are consistently opposed to relevant countries threatening and damaging the sovereignty and security of littoral countries under the flag of freedom of navigation and overflight.”

http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/us-south-china-sea-naval-patrols-threaten-sovereignty-beijing

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