U.S. Naval Patrols Threaten Sovereignty, Chinese Think Tank Warns
- Recommendations include air defense zone in South China Sea
- ‘Very possible’ for Trump to deploy more vessels: Wu Shicun
Why China's Territorial Disputes Could Mean War
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American military vessels and aircraft carried out more than 700 patrols in the South China Sea region during 2015, making China the U.S.’s No. 1 surveillance target, according to a report by China’s only state-backed institution dedicated to research of the waters.
The patrols pose a threat to China’s sovereignty and security interests, said the report by the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, which is headquartered in Hainan island. The document, the first of its kind released by China, warned that continued targeted operations by U.S. patrols would lead to militarization of the waters.