US to build up military presence in South China Sea

The United States are going to build up their military presence in the South China Sea. Both countries claim their interests in the disputed area. The US Defense Ministry is concerned with China's expansive military presence.

David Shear, assistant defense secretary for Asia and Pacific affairs, declared that China's claims over almost all of the Southeast Asian sea are destabilizing and risk a regional conflict with states such as Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia.

"DoD is taking action to protect US national interests in the South China Sea: peaceful resolution of disputes, freedom of navigation and overflight and other internationally lawful uses of the sea related to these freedoms, unimpeded lawful commerce, respect for international law, and the maintenance of peace and stability," Shear told during his speech at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Defense Secretary Ash Carter though requested options for sending additional US aircraft and ships to the South China Sea and deploying them within 12 miles of disputed Spratly islands reefs where China has been building potential military facilities.

Read article in Russian on the Russian version of Pravda.Ru

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