The US is poised to sail warships close to China’s artificial islands in the South China Sea, to send a strong signal to Beijing that Washington does not recognise Chinese territorial claims over the area.
One US official told the Financial Times that the ships would sail inside the 12-nautical mile zones that China claims as territory around some of the islands it has constructed around the Spratly chain. The ships are expected to start their manoeuvres over the next two weeks.
The move is likely to raise tensions between the powers, and comes as Washington and Beijing are at loggerheads over several issues, including US allegations that China is engaging in commercial cyber espionage.
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