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A US Navy crewman aboard a P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft views a computer screen purportedly showing Chinese construction on the reclaimed land of Fiery Cross Reef in the disputed Spratly Islands. Photo: Reuters

Beijing warns US military flights in South China Sea could lead to accident

Beijing said on Friday it was "strongly dissatisfied" after a US military plane flew over part of the South China Sea near where China is building artificial islands, and called on Washington to stop such action or risk causing an "accident".

"Such action is likely to cause an accident; it is very irresponsible and dangerous and detrimental to regional peace and stability. We express our strong dissatisfaction. We urge the US to strictly abide by international law and international rules and refrain from taking any risky and provocative actions," foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a regular news briefing.

"China will continue to closely monitor the relevant area and take the necessary and appropriate measures to prevent harm to the safety of China's islands and reefs as well as any sea and air accidents."

Watch: 'Go away!' US Navy spy plane in tense radio exchange with Chinese navy over South China Sea

Hong's remark came after CNN reported on Wednesday that a Chinese navy dispatcher demanded eight times that a US Air Force P8-A Poseidon surveillance aircraft leave the area as it flew over Fiery Cross Reef, where China has conducted extensive reclamation work.

Daniel Russel, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, told a media briefing in Washington the US reconnaissance flight was "entirely appropriate" and that US naval forces and military aircraft would "continue to fully exercise" the right to operate in international waters and airspace.

"Nobody in their right mind is going to try to stop the US Navy from operating - that would not be a good bet," he said. "But it's not enough that a US military plane can overfly international waters, even if there is challenge or hailing query … We believe that every country and all civilian actors should have unfettered access to international waters and international airspace."

Russel voiced hope China and the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) would agree to a binding "code of conduct" aimed at preventing conflicts in the South China Sea in their summit slated for November in Kuala Lumpur, in line with a 2002 deal.

Beijing-based naval expert Li Jie said the Pentagon was trying to stoke tension in the region and make Asean countries nervous, but China would not allow the US to become involved in the code of conduct.

"Since some Asean members are US allies, Washington always wants to control China through Asean, which is part of its plan to implement [US] President Barack Obama's 'pivot to Asia'," Li said. "The existing situation is not good for China. It's a fact that many Asean members are unhappy over China's land reclamation. Beijing needs to come up with comprehensive countermeasures to ease the tension."

Colonel Steven Warren, US Defence Department spokesman, said the "next step" could involve US military aircraft flying over waters within 12 nautical miles, which marks territorial waters, of land artificially created by China on reclaimed area.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Beijing calls US action in disputed sea 'dangerous'
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