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CHINA restated its sovereignty over artificial islands in the South China Sea yesterday after a US spy plane entered its airspace.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said China was “entitled to the surveillance over related airspace and sea areas so as to maintain national security and avoid any maritime accidents.
“We hope relevant countries respect China’s sovereignty over the South China Sea, abandon actions that may intensify controversies and play a constructive role for regional peace and stability.”
He made the thinly veiled comments a day after a US Air Force P8-A Poseidon surveillance aircraft flew into Chinese airspace over Fiery Cross Reef, where China has conducted extensive reclamation work.
A Chinese navy dispatcher demanded eight times that the US aircraft leave the area.
The aircraft’s crew responded that they were flying through international airspace, to which the Chinese dispatcher answered: “This is the Chinese navy. You go!”
The P-8 electronic signals intelligence aircraft is based on the Boeing 737, but may be armed with a variety of electronic and explosive weapons. Its role is to snoop on other countries’ radio transmissions.
