A Royal Malaysian Navy vessel fires a missile during a military exercise in the South China Sea on August 12. Malaysia is among the nations that have competing claims with China in the resource-rich waters. Photo: DPA
US says new Chinese rule that vessels register for South China Sea access threatens freedom of navigation
- Maritime regulations ‘must not infringe upon rights enjoyed by all nations under international law’, says Pentagon spokesman
- New rule is supposed to apply to the South China Sea, the East China Sea, and the islands and reefs dotted across the water that Beijing claims as its territory
