China threatens Britain with military response if 'hostile' Royal Navy ship carrying US fighter jets sail near disputed South China Sea islands
CHINA has warned Britain that sailing warships through the disputed South China Sea will be viewed as a “hostile action”.close to the contested Spratly Islands.China’s claim that large parts of the South China Sea are its territorial waters is hotly disputed and several countries sail warships through the area to assert rights of passage.
Speaking at the same event, China’s ambassador to the UK Liu Xiaoming rejected the argument that the Royal Navy would be upholding international law. The dispute centres around legal claims to ocean areas and two island chains, the Paracels and the Spratlys, which are thought to be abundant in natural resources.
It claims that these are part of its national coastline but the United States and the Philippines say that doesn't apply to artificial islands.Warships from the United States and China have been engaged in tense stand-offs which have threatened to escalate into conflict in the disputed seas. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “The UK has enduring interests in the region and is committed to maintaining regional security.
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