China on Saturday urged U.S. not to undermine mutual trust and regional peace.

China on Saturday urged U.S. not to undermine mutual trust and regional peace. (NewsAcrossChina).

China on Saturday urged the United States to respect and abide by its laws, and not to undermine the mutual trust and regional peace and stability.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying made the remarks as reports said a U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer sailed within 12 nautical miles of Zhongjian Dao, Xisha Islands.

According to the China's law on the territorial sea and contiguous zone enacted in 1992, foreign warships entering China's territorial waters must be approved by the Chinese government.

"The U.S. warship violated Chinese law and entered China' s territorial sea without authorization. The Chinese side conducted surveillance and vocal warnings to the U.S. warship," Hua said.

Defense Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun also issued a statement, saying the U.S. act severely violated Chinese law, sabotaged the peace, security and good order of the waters, and undermined the region' s peace and stability. The Defense Ministry is firmly against this, he said.

Yang said China's law on the territorial sea and contiguous zone accords with the international law and practice, and that many other countries have similar laws.

The Chinese government also issued a statement on territorial sea baseline on May 15, 1996, which announced part of the baseline of the territorial sea adjacent to China's mainland and the baseline of the territorial sea adjacent to the Xisha Islands.

"The U.S. side is fully aware of this, yet it still sent its warship into China' s territorial sea without authorization. It is a deliberate provocation," Yang said in the statement.

According to Yang, Chinese troops on the islands and Navy vessels and warplanes took actions immediately. They identified and verified the U.S. warship, warned and expelled it swiftly.

For many years, the U.S. side has proposed measures to ensure navigation safety of ships and aircraft of all parties, but it repeatedly sent vessels and planes into China' s territorial sea and air space regardless of China's opposition, leading to close encounters of navy and air force troops of the two countries, Yang said.

He added that the move on the U.S. side is very unprofessional and irresponsible for the safety of the troops of both sides, and may cause extremely dangerous consequences.

The Chinese armed forces will take whatever measures necessary to safeguard China's sovereignty and security, no matter what provocations the U.S. side may take, Yang said.  More on this story here.

China lands 1st civilian plane on disputed Spratly Islands.

China lands 1st civilian plane on disputed Spratly Islands. (RT).

A test flight by a civilian plane landed on an island in the South China Sea, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said. It’s the first time China has done so in the disputed Spratly Islands. Tensions are now high with neighboring Vietnam and the Philippines.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at the weekend the test flight of a non-military aircraft was intended to check if the runway meets civilian aviation standards and fell “completely within China's sovereignty,” according to Reuters.

The runway is at the Chinese-administered Fiery Cross Reef, where Beijing has built an artificial island in the middle of the South China Sea. However, Vietnam, Taiwan and the Philippines also lay claim to the area. The runway is 3,000 meters (about 10,000 feet) long and is thought to be capable of serving long-range planes, including transport craft, bombers and fighter jets.

Both Vietnam and the Philippines have delivered formal diplomatic protests condemning China’s actions, Reuters reports.

"That's the fear, that China will be able take control of the South China Sea and it will affect freedom of navigation and freedom of overflight," the Philippines’ Foreign Ministry spokesman Charles Jose told reporters on Monday.Read the full story here.

China's navy chief demands U.S. stop "provocations" in South China Sea

PLA navy chief demands U.S. stop "provocations" in South China Sea. (ICC).

The commander of the People's Liberation Army Navy Wu Shengli Thursday called on the United States to stop its "provocations" in the South China Sea.

The Chinese navy had exercised maximum restraint in the face of U.S. provocations to preserve bilateral ties, Admiral Wu said in a meeting with Admiral Scott Swift, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet in Beijing, referring to recent visits to the South China Sea by U.S. military vessels and planes.

"The U.S. side must stop its provocations in South China Sea and curb its navy operations," Wu said. Enditem

China responds to U.S. Statement: "It is very clear who is breaking the international order and making trouble,"

China responds to U.S. Statement: "It is very clear who is breaking the international order and making trouble," (Icrosschina).

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Tuesday refuted a recent speech made by the U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter, stressing that China is a maintainer, builder and contributor to the current international order.

China unswervingly defends peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region as well as international justice, spokesman Hong Lei said at a press briefing when commenting on the speech issued by the Pentagon chief on Saturday.

Carter reportedly said that China presents a challenge to the "international order."

The current international order is based on the purpose and principles of the UN Charter and jointly established by the international community, Hong said, stressing that the most fundamental principles are respect to each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, equality and non-interference in others' internal affairs.

"International order" can not be defined by any individual in the United States at his own will, the spokesman said.

As for the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, Hong said China's position is consistent and clear and remains unchanged.

China has the right to carry out construction on its own territory, because the Nansha Islands have been Chinese territory since ancient times, he said.

"It won't cause any damage to any other country, nor affect the region's navigation freedom," Hong said.

China has always been committed to the peaceful settlement of disputes through negotiation and consultation on the basis of respecting historical facts and international law. The country is willing to work together with ASEAN countries to safeguard peace and stability in the S.China Sea, he said.

China's position is reasonable and lawful and the U.S. side has no right to make irresponsible comments, he said.

Last week, Carter boarded an American aircraft carrier in the South China Sea to demonstrate the U.S.'s commitment to freedom of navigation.

The move posed serious damage to China's sovereignty and security while exacerbating tensions in the region, Hong said.

"It is very clear who is breaking the international order and making trouble,"said Hong. Enditem

Beijing Shocks US With Unbelievable Progress of Artificial Island & Airstrip in South China Sea.

Beijing Shocks US With Unbelievable Progress of Artificial Island and Airstrip in South China Sea.(SP).

New satellite imagery shows the extent of China’s construction of artificial islands in the South China Sea. Fiery Cross Reef could soon serve as a military-grade runway in the middle of the ocean.

And despite its own military presence in the region, US officials are in panic. Dredging sand from the seafloor, the Chinese government has been steadily building artificial landmasses atop sunken reefs in the Spratly Islands archipelago. In part, the islands will be used to bolster emergency response in the region.

But Beijing also says the islands will be used as military defense posts, which worries officials in Washington, already concerned about a growing Chinese influence.

Images obtained by IHS Jane’s Defense Weekly from Airbus Defence and Space show just how rapid the island growth has been. With construction beginning only last year, Fiery Cross Reef is now home to China’s first airstrip in the South China Sea. With 503 metered already paved, the runway could be as long as 3,000 meters once completed. That’s long enough to support heavy military transport planes and fighter jets, according to Washington’s Center for Strategic and International Studies. Hmmmm.....Rumor has it The Pres. is contacting China to know if there are possibilities of building golf trips in the Ocean. Read the full story here