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Paracels tough new front in U.S. battle to rein-in China's South China Sea ambitions
Source; Reuters
Tue Mar 1, 2016 10:27pm EST
Paracels tough new front in U.S. battle to rein-in China's South China Sea ambitions
HONG KONG | BY GREG TORODE
The United States and China are risking a tit-for-tat escalation over the Paracel Islands as Beijing asserts its authority over one of its most tightly-held assets in the South China Sea and Washington challenges a growing military build-up.
Both Chinese and foreign security experts say Beijing won't compromise over the Paracels, and it views its 42-year grip over the entire archipelago as significantly different to the more fragmented situation further south in the contentious Spratly Islands.
China does not acknowledge the Paracels are disputed by neighbouring Vietnam, repeatedly ignoring Hanoi's requests for talks on the Paracels as part of broader territorial discussions and attempting to force them off the regional diplomatic agenda.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
Since the U.S. navy dispatched a destroyer to sail close to the Paracels last month, China has established advanced surface-to-air missiles batteries and re-deployed fighter jets to the islands, prompting U.S.-led protests that Beijing is militarising the South China Sea.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying last week reiterated China's insistence that the islands were not in dispute, so Beijing could deploy what it wanted on its territory without reproach.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
Paracels tough new front in U.S. battle to rein-in China's South China Sea ambitions
HONG KONG | BY GREG TORODE
The United States and China are risking a tit-for-tat escalation over the Paracel Islands as Beijing asserts its authority over one of its most tightly-held assets in the South China Sea and Washington challenges a growing military build-up.
Both Chinese and foreign security experts say Beijing won't compromise over the Paracels, and it views its 42-year grip over the entire archipelago as significantly different to the more fragmented situation further south in the contentious Spratly Islands.
China does not acknowledge the Paracels are disputed by neighbouring Vietnam, repeatedly ignoring Hanoi's requests for talks on the Paracels as part of broader territorial discussions and attempting to force them off the regional diplomatic agenda.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
Since the U.S. navy dispatched a destroyer to sail close to the Paracels last month, China has established advanced surface-to-air missiles batteries and re-deployed fighter jets to the islands, prompting U.S.-led protests that Beijing is militarising the South China Sea.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying last week reiterated China's insistence that the islands were not in dispute, so Beijing could deploy what it wanted on its territory without reproach.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/southchinasea-china-paracels-idUSKCN0W4055
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