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A U.S. Air Force Boeing B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber. A similar bomber flew near artificial Chinese islands in the South China Sea recently. Photo: Reuters

Obama to raise South China Sea dispute with Asian leaders, chief adviser says

US president will discuss territorial disputes with the region's leaders, top adviser says

The South China Sea disputes will be a "central issue" when US President Barack Obama meets Asian leaders next week, a US official said, as the Pentagon revealed two American B-52 bombers recently flew near Chinese-made islands in the waters.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said China opposed flights that used freedom of navigation as legal cover to challenge Beijing's sovereignty and security.

US National Security Adviser Susan Rice said the territorial disputes would feature prominently during Obama's trip to the Philippines and for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit and Malaysia for the East Asia Summit.

Rice said the issue would be a "central issue of discussion" at the summits and at "other engagements that we have throughout our visit to Asia".

Beijing has insisted that the regional summits should not be used to discuss the dispute.

Pentagon officials said on Thursday the bombers flew "in the area" of the Spratly Islands, but did not cross the 12-nautical-mile zone that China claims around its artificial islands.

Read more: Air power: US flew B-52 bombers near disputed South China Sea islands, Pentagon says

Pentagon spokesman Bill Urban said the operation on November 8-9 was a routine mission. Chinese ground controllers contacted the bombers but the aircraft continued the mission without incident, he added. The American USS Lassen warship sailed within the 12-mile zone last month.

Philippines foreign affairs spokesman Charles Jose said China's actions were not supportive of Apec's objectives. "On the part of Apec, we are promoting economic development, economic prosperity. And to be able to achieve that, we need peace and stability in the region. And for the past, maybe, two decades, all the countries in the region have benefited from the peaceful … and stable environment," Jose said.

But both the Philippines and China have agreed not to raise the matter during the summit, saying it is not the proper forum to discuss political maritime issues.

Read more: South China Sea row is a ‘knot’ in relations that Manila must untie: Beijing

Observers said US patrols in the disputed waters would become more regular as Washington stepped up its security role in the region. "The South China Sea is a point of penetration for the United States as it pivots towards Asia," said Xue Li, director of international strategy research at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Hu Bo, a researcher at the Institute of Ocean Research under Peking University, said the American patrols were "a deterrence gesture and would probably become a new normal in the future". But both sides would work to avoid escalating the confrontation into conflict, Hu said.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Obama to focus on row over islands at Asia talks
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