Pentagon chief has criticized China’s actions in the South China Sea – RBC

The head of US Department of Defense Ashton Carter

Photo: REUTERS 2015

Speaking at the forum, “Shangri-La Dialogue” in Singapore, Carter said that China’s policy undermines the security of the Asia-Pacific region, and called to make diplomatic efforts to resolve the territorial disputes in the South China Sea , reports Reuters.

According to Carter, the area of ​​artificial islands that are established in Beijing in the South China Sea, is already about 800 hectares, and they appeared only in the last year and a half. “It is unclear how far China is going to go,” – said Carter.

According to Carter, the United States is “deeply concerned about the militarization of the islands in the South China Sea.” Carter urged China to stop the construction of artificial islands in the sea, and promised that the US would send into the waters near the territories claimed by China, submarines, spy planes and war ships.

On the eve of the Pentagon confirmed that China sent two mobile artillery on one of the artificial islands.

Last week was published a new military strategy in China, according to which in the range of operations of naval forces of China added “the protection of the high seas.” Earlier in the Chinese Navy was part of the problem only “defense of coastal waters».

China claims virtually the entire area of ​​the South China Sea with the islands of the Spratly and Paracel Islands Huangyan. In addition to the Spratlys claimed by China and Vietnam and the Philippines. These countries are placed on the part of the archipelago its military contingent. According to the US Department of Energy, in the area of ​​Reed Bank of the archipelago are concentrated to 5.4 billion barrels of oil and 55.1 trillion cubic meters of natural gas.