THE US has accused China of destabilising the region after it landed bombers on disputed territory in the South China Sea for the first time.
Sovereignty in areas of the South China Sea is disputed, with China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan and Malaysia all laying claim to parts of two island chains, the Paracels.
China said the military drills were designed to improve the country’s ability to “reach all territory”, but the US said the drills would heighten tensions in the area.
“We have seen these same reports and China’s continued militarisation of disputed features in the South China Sea only serves to raise tensions and destabilise the region,” said a Pentagon spokesman.
The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI), which monitors activity in the Asia region, said a bomber landed and took off from a base on Woody Island, which Vietnam and Taiwan also claim sovereignty over. While China has deployed fighter jets there before, it has never landed there, the AMTI said.
The South China Sea are is a major shipping route and is thought to have plentiful oil and gas reserves, as well as a strong fishing ground.
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