China Sea Controvery- Chinese Embassy rejects New York Times editorial piece
Wed Jun 01, 2016 02:15:pm World
2.7K By Buchi Obichie
A New York Times account of a recent air encounter between Chinese and U.S. military planes over the South China Sea has been rejected by the Chinese Embassy in Washington.
A spokesman for the Chinese Embassy, Zhu Haiquan, in a letter to the Times which was published on the paper's website on tuesday, stated that "The Chinese military aircraft acted professionally while it watched the U.S. Navy spy plane carrying out close reconnaissance in Chinese coastal waters."
"Our operation was completely compliant with safety and professional standards. The attempt at intimidation by American military aircraft in the South China Sea, however, was not," Zhu wrote.
The encounter occurred about two weeks ago. The Chinese Defense Ministry in Beijing has accused the American plane of espionage, saying the Chinese aircraft responded properly in line with professional standards and a bilateral agreement.
Zhu's letter was a response to the May 21 New York Times editorial entitled "Playing Chicken in the South China Sea."
The editorial alleged that "China has been behaving in a bellicose fashion" in its effort to uphold sovereignty.
Zhu stressed that "The South China Sea should not be turned into a geopolitical chessboard. We hope the United States, instead of flexing muscles, could play a responsible and constructive role in promoting dialogue and negotiation," Zhu wrote.
China has been engaged in a tug-of-war over territorial claims with its Asian neighbors, concerning the South China Sea. The US has reiterated its point that intimidation would not be tolerated.
A spokesman for the Chinese Embassy, Zhu Haiquan, in a letter to the Times which was published on the paper's website on tuesday, stated that "The Chinese military aircraft acted professionally while it watched the U.S. Navy spy plane carrying out close reconnaissance in Chinese coastal waters."
"Our operation was completely compliant with safety and professional standards. The attempt at intimidation by American military aircraft in the South China Sea, however, was not," Zhu wrote.
The encounter occurred about two weeks ago. The Chinese Defense Ministry in Beijing has accused the American plane of espionage, saying the Chinese aircraft responded properly in line with professional standards and a bilateral agreement.
Zhu's letter was a response to the May 21 New York Times editorial entitled "Playing Chicken in the South China Sea."
The editorial alleged that "China has been behaving in a bellicose fashion" in its effort to uphold sovereignty.
Zhu stressed that "The South China Sea should not be turned into a geopolitical chessboard. We hope the United States, instead of flexing muscles, could play a responsible and constructive role in promoting dialogue and negotiation," Zhu wrote.
China has been engaged in a tug-of-war over territorial claims with its Asian neighbors, concerning the South China Sea. The US has reiterated its point that intimidation would not be tolerated.
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