2nd LD Writethru-China Focus: Navy chief "deeply concerned" over U.S. patrol ship in S.China Sea

Top China and U.S. naval commanders held video talks on Thursday, two days after a U.S. destroyer patrolled the South China Sea, with the Chinese side expressing "deep concern."

"Such dangerous and provocative acts have threatened China's sovereignty and security and harmed regional peace and stability," Admiral Wu Shengli of the People's Liberation Army's Navy said during talks with his U.S.-counterpart Admiral Jonathan Richardson, chief of U.S. naval operations.

Earlier on Tuesday, the U.S. destroyer USS Lassen entered waters near Zhubi Reef without the permission of the Chinese government, despite repeated opposition and representation from China, said Wu, a member of the Central Military Commission.

Wu warned that if the United States continued such actions, tensions would rise between the two countries' naval and air forces, leading to a "possible clash."

He said he hopes the United States cherishes the sound situation between the Chinese and U.S. navies and will avoid reoccurrence of similar incidents.

China will "have to take all necessary measures to safeguard sovereignty and security" if the United States persists on going its own way and ignoring China's concern, he said.

Considering the big picture for Sino-U.S. relations, Chinese Naval ships warned the U.S. destroyer several times following the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES). The warnings were ignored by the U.S. ship and the Chinese navy was "deeply concerned," Wu said.

Wu said it is a well-known fact and the country's consistent stance that China has "irrefutable" sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and its adjacent waters. China's island construction in the area has been conducted on its own territory and is a matter within the scope of Chinese sovereignty.

"It is reasonable and legal and does not target or affect any other countries. It will not influence the freedom of navigation and flight enjoyed by other countries," he said.

"Freedom of navigation in the South China Sea has not had a problem in the past and will not have one now or in the future."

Such a principle does not provide a pretext or privilege for any nation to harm others' sovereignty and security, he said.

Wu said the United States should not force other countries to accept its proposal and must not infringe upon other country's interests in the name of maintaining freedom of navigation.

He said both countries' navies have broad cooperation prospects and potential in the South China Sea. They should jointly play a positive role in safeguarding regional peace and stability.

Wu pointed out that international laws, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, state that countries should fully respect coastal countries' sovereignty and security interests, instead of "showing off military power or threatening coastal countries," while enjoying freedom of navigation and flight.

Richardson said the U.S. patrol in the South China Sea was part of its global navigation freedom and follows international laws and conventions.

He said it is not aimed at any one particular country and that the "U.S. takes no position in competing sovereignty claims."

The video conference was the first direct communication between top naval officers of the two countries. Richardson said the naval dialogue was necessary and he hopes relations will continue to develop between the two navies. Endit