AP - US, China spar over North Korea, South China Sea
AP reports: "China claims sovereignty of much of the territory in the South China
Sea. It rejects claims from countries such as the Philippines and
Vietnam and has bristled at U.S. warnings that its activities threaten
the freedom of navigation in some of the world's busiest commercial
shipping lanes.
Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei also have overlapping claims in the
strategically vital sea, through which around $5 trillion in world trade
passes each year.
The U.S. says it takes no position on the claims but says developments
in the South China Sea are a national security interest. It has urged
that the disputes be settled peacefully and that a binding code of
conduct be established for the area.
Tensions have been especially high since Beijing transformed seven
disputed reefs into islands, where it is now constructing runways and
facilities that rival claimants say can be used militarily."
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