MAY 26 (Reuters) — China said on Monday (May 25) it had lodged a complaint with the United States over a U.S. spy plane that flew over parts of the disputed South China Sea in a diplomatic row that has fueled tension between the world’s two largest economies.
Friction in the region has grown over China’s land reclamation in the Spratlys islands. China last week said it was “strongly dissatisfied” after a U.S. spy plane flew over areas near the reefs, with both sides accusing each other of stoking instability.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Monday China had lodged a complaint and that it opposed “provocative behavior” by the United States.
“China is firmly opposed to the U.S.’ provocative behavior and has made solemn representations to the U.S. side. I want to emphasize that China’s determination to protect its national sovereignty and territorial integrity is as firm as a rock. We urge the U.S. to correct its error, remain rational and stop all irresponsible words and deeds,” she said.
“But this freedom of navigation and over flight by no means that foreign countries’ warships and military aircraft can ignore the legitimate rights of other countries as well as the safety of aviation and navigation,” Hua added.
The nationalist Global Times, a tabloid owned by the ruling Communist Party’s official newspaper, the People’s Daily, said in an editorial on Monday that war was “inevitable” between China and the United States unless Washington stopped demanding Beijing halt the building of artificial islands in the disputed waterway.
Hua said that she could not comment on the paper’s editorial, but China had noted “ear-piercing voices” from many in the U.S. about China’s construction on the islands and reefs.
“The viewpoint that (the Global Times) expresses can only represent viewpoints of its own. I cannot speak on behalf of it. But we have noted the ear-piercing voices from several people in the United States about China’s construction activities on the islands and reefs. We believe these voices are making fake claims and obscuring the facts. We express our grave concern about the U.S.’ words and deeds,” said Hua.
The Global Times editorial said China was determined to finish its construction work, calling it the country’s “most important bottom line”.
Such commentaries are not official policy statements, but are sometimes read as a reflection of government thinking.
China claims most of the South China Sea, through which $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei have overlapping claims.
The United States has routinely called on all claimants to halt reclamation in the Spratlys, but accuses China of carrying out work on a scale that far outstrips any other country.
Washington has also vowed to keep up air and sea patrols in the South China Sea amid concerns among security experts that China might impose air and sea restrictions in the Spratlys once it completes work on its seven artificial islands.
China has said it has every right to set up an Air Defense Identification Zone in the South China Sea but that current conditions did not warrant one.
The Global Times said “risks are still under control” if Washington takes into account China’s peaceful rise.
China’s state media has stepped up its rhetoric against the United States, warning that the row over the South China Sea could hurt broader relations. But there appears to be little popular anger among the Chinese population so far, judging from sentiment expressed on Weibo, China’s version of Twitter.