China is telling the United States military to stop gathering intelligence along China’s coast after an incident involving aircraft from the two countries. The U.S. Defense Department described an “unsafe” meeting between a U.S. military airplane and two Chinese fighter jets. It said the Chinese jets intercepted the plane on a routine patrol Tuesday in international airspace over the South China Sea. A Chinese foreign ministry official said the jets followed and observed the U.S. plane “in accordance” with international law. Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said the Chinese aircraft “continually kept a safe distance and did not take any dangerous actions.” He said the intercept took place near China’s southern province of Hainan, and that it was a “serious threat” to Chinese airspace. The incident comes at a time of growing concern in East Asia over China’s territorial claims. China claims most of the South China Sea. But Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims to parts of the sea. China has been developing artificial islands in the disputed waters, complete with runways and military bases. Earlier this month, China ordered fighter jets into the air after a U.S. Navy ship sailed close to a disputed area in the South China Sea. Two Chinese fighter jets and three warships followed the U.S. ship and told it to leave the area. Tensions over the competing territorial claims are expected to be discussed during U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit to Asia. Obama will become the first U.S. president to visit Hiroshima, Japan, where the United States carried out the world’s first atomic bomb attack at the end of World War II. He will also visit Vietnam. Some observers believe the incident on Tuesday is not directly related to tensions over the South China Sea. William Choong is a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Singapore. He said the Chinese government’s reaction seems to be part of a dispute over military surveillance flights. I’m Bryan Lynn. Bill Ide reported this story for VOANews.com. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the comments, and post on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story surveillance – n. close observation of something, especially a suspected spy or criminal intercept – v. to stop and take someone or something from one place to another monitor – v. to observe and check the progress or quality of something artificial – adj. made or produced by humans rather than occurring naturally vessel – n. a ship or large boat maritime – adj. relating to the sea, especially relating to commercial or military activity routine – adj. done very often; done or happening as part of a normal job patrol – n. the act of moving through an area to make sure it is safe
from Voice of America http://ift.tt/22hwh4x
via IFTTT
الاشتراك في:
تعليقات الرسالة (Atom)
المشاركات الشائعة
-
As President of the United States, Donald Trump shakes a lot of hands. But look out. If you shake Trump’s hand, you might get pulled off y...
-
Even in the world of medicine, what is old is new again. Thousands of years ago, Egyptians used it to sterilize drinking water. Ancient Roma...
-
00:00:02 OPRAH WINFREY: "Hattie Mae, this child is gifted," and I heard that enough that I started to believe it. 00:00:08 ...
-
Olayemi Samson is a Nigerian entrepreneur. He is turning plastic waste into useful things like clothing, school bags, car covers and shoes...
-
Learn from your hosts, Anne and Jonathan the meaning of momentous. from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2a2yXS4 via IFTTT
-
Zimbabwe wants small business to be able to get credit to start or grow a business. If the country’s Parliament approves a bill proposed l...
-
An unpublished United Nations report says that North Korea sent materials that could be used in chemical weapons to Syria and missile techno...
-
South Korea’s government proposed on Monday to hold military talks with North Korea to reduce tensions between the two countries. The South ...
-
Tensions between North and South Korea have increased sharply since the North’s announcement that it tested a nuclear weapon for the fourt...
-
The first-ever direct China-to-Britain freight train arrived in London last week. It was the latest evidence of China’s efforts to redevel...
ليست هناك تعليقات:
إرسال تعليق