US BOMBERS FLY OVER DISPUTED SOUTH CHINA SEA

Washington, 1 Shafar 1437/13 November 2015 (MINA) – Two US B-52 bombers flew over disputed parts ofthe South China Sea, officials said Thursday, as the United States continued to test Chinese territorial claims in the important sea route.

Many regional countries, including the Philippines and Vietnam, deny China’s claim to most of the South China Sea, but Beijing has rapidly reclaimed land and expanded the islets to build airports, runways and other constructions, Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) quoted DPA as reporting.

The Chinese military contacted the US bombers, telling them to “get away from our islands,” Washington-based news site The Hill quoted an unnamed US official as saying. The bombers did not comply, he added.

The B-52 bombers flew within 12 nautical miles of China’s man-made islands near the Spratly Islands, the US official was quoted as saying.

Pentagon spokesman Bill Urban confirmed the flights, but told reporters that the bombers did not go within 12 nautical miles (22 kilometres) of any islands. This is the limit of a country’s sovereign territory in the sea, although it does not apply to submerged reefs or artificial installations built on them. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)