China’s ‘disturbing’ missile tests contradict vow not to militarise South China Sea, says US

Launch undermines claim to want peace in the region and is designed to intimidate other claimants of the disputed waters, Pentagon says

Chinese government had warned ships not to enter area between Spratly and Paracel islands for five days while military drills took place

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Washington has condemned China for building military installations on artificial islands and reefs. Photo: Reuters

Published: 11:42am, 3 Jul 2019Updated: 12:53pm, 3 Jul 2019

The Pentagon said on Tuesday a recent Chinese missile launch in the disputed South China Sea was “disturbing” and contrary to Chinese pledges that it would not militarise the disputed waterway.

The South China Sea is one of a growing number of flashpoints in the US-China relationship, which include a trade war, US sanctions and Taiwan.

China and the United States have repeatedly traded barbs in the past over what Washington says is Beijing’s militarisation of the South China Sea by building military installations on artificial islands and reefs.

A US official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said China tested multiple anti-ship ballistic missiles over the weekend.

“Of course the Pentagon was aware of the Chinese missile launch from the man-made structures in the South China Sea near the Spratly Islands,” said Lieutenant Colonel Dave Eastburn, spokesman for the US defence department.

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