BEIJING (AP) – Beijing reacted harshly to a U.S. warship sailing near one of its newly created islands in a disputed area of the South China Sea. The action did not spark a confrontation or roll back any Chinese island-building activities, but it sent a high-profile message to both Beijing and U.S. allies that Washington wants to test Chinese sovereignty assertions and ensure freedom of navigation.
Some questions and answers:
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WHAT IS THE IMPACT?
As in previous incidents, Beijing is likely to voice its outrage for a time, before reasserting the wisdom of the government’s calculated approach to its crucial relationship with the U.S. However, the testy reaction underlines tensions in the strategically vital region through which about one-third of global trade passes. Frictions are likely to worsen as Washington’s renewed focus on Asia rubs up against Beijing’s increasingly robust assertions of its claim to virtually the entire sea and its islands, reefs and atolls. China says its sovereignty claims do not conflict with the rights of other nations to operate in the South China Sea, although the Defense Ministry accused the U.S. of abusing those rights.