China militarization in West Philippine Sea to have consequences – US

WASHINGTON – The White House warned China on Thursday of consequences over its growing militarization in the South China Sea.

Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders made the comment when asked about US intelligence reports that there is a high probability that China’s military has deployed missiles in the Spratly islands, parts of which are within Philippine territory.

“We’re well aware of China’s militarization of the South China Sea,” Sanders said, adding the United States has “raised concerns” with the Chinese over this.

“There will be near-term and long-term consequences, and we’ll certainly keep you up to date,” she said. Sanders did not say what the consequences  might be.

Pentagon chief spokeswoman Dana White reaffirmed US commitment to keeping the sea lanes open to international traffic.

She said the Chinese must understand that “they cannot, and should not, be hostile, and understand that the Pacific is a place in which much commerce goes through. And it’s in their interest to ensure that there’s a free navigation of international waters.”

The South China Sea is one of the most contested areas in the world with overlapping territorial claims by China, the Philippines and Vietnam, among several other claimants.

CNBC, quoting a source with knowledge of US intelligence reports, said on Thursday the Chinese military had deployed weapons systems on artificial islands in Spratly (called Nansha by the Chinese) east of the Philippines.

It said the YJ-12B anti-ship missiles would be able to strike ships up to 295 nautical miles away from the artificial islands.

Eric Sayers, a former consultant to the commander of the US Pacific Command, called the missile deployment “a major escalation” and said one immediate US response could be to rescind Beijing’s invitation to this year’s RIMPAC multilateral naval exercises beginning in Hawaii in July.

“When China sees that it can get away with these types of actions with little cost – as they did all through 2015 and 2016 – it only makes it more likely they will keep pressing,” said Sayers, currently an adjunct fellow at Washington’s Center for Strategic and International Studies.

“China sees its participation in the exercise as a sign of its acceptance among the world’s maritime powers but Beijing should not be allowed to militarize this open maritime domain and still be honored as a welcomed member of the maritime community.”

In Beijing, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China has been involved in peaceful construction in the islands, which includes “the deployment of necessary national defense facilities.”

“Our peaceful construction activities on the Nansha Islands, including the deployment of necessary national defense facilities, are meant to safeguard China’s sovereignty and security, which is also the rights a sovereign state is entitled to,” she said.

“The relevant deployment targets no one. Anyone with no invasive intention will find no reason to worry about this,” she said.

Hua said China will continue to work with all countries to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.

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