The United States is considering sailing warships close to China’s artificial islands in the West Philippine Sea or South China Sea to signal it does not recognize Chinese territorial claims over the area, a U.S. defense official said on Thursday (October 8).
The Financial Times newspaper cited a senior U.S. official as saying U.S. ships would sail within 12-nautical-mile zones that China claims as territory around islands it has built in the Spratly chain, within the next two weeks.
The Navy Times quoted U.S. officials as saying the action could take place “within days,” but awaited final approval from the Obama administration.
A U.S. defense official declined to confirm that any decision had been made, but referred to remarks in congressional testimony last month by U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense David Shear, that “all options are on the table.”
“We are looking at this,” the official said, on condition of anonymity.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said he was aware of the media reports but did not have any comment on future policy decisions.
Earnest told a regular news briefing that any such move “should not provoke significant reaction from the Chinese.”
“This is something the United States has done on several other occasions because the president is committed to the principle of freedom of navigation in the West Philippine Sea or also called as South China Sea.”
