China denies sending surface to air missiles to contested island
Date
2/17/2016 2:32:33 AM
(MENAFN- Asia Times) Images of the Woody Island beach on Feb. 14
China denied the reports describing them as creations of some Western media.
Taiwan defense ministry spokesman Major General David Lo saidthe missile batteries had been set up on Woody Island. The island is part of the Paracels chain under Chinese control for more than 40 year but also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam.
“Interested parties should work together to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea region and refrain from taking any unilateral measures that would increase tensions” Lo said on Wednesday.
A U.S. defense official also confirmed the “apparent deployment” of the missiles first reported by Fox News (Watch video).
Images from civilian satellite company ImageSat International show two batteries of eight surface-to-air missile launchers as well as a radar system according to Fox News.
News of the missile deployment came as Obama and leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations concluded a summit in California where they discussed the need to ease tensions in the region but did not include specific mention of China’s assertive pursuit of its claims in the South China Sea.
The deployment of missiles would be contrary to China's pledge not to militarize the region Admiral Harry Harris commander of the US Pacific Command saidin Tokyo where he is meeting with Japanese defense officials.
In the meantime Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also told reporters he hoped Western media would pay more attention to the lighthouses China is building in the region than to rumors. At the same news conference Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop who is visiting China urged restraint in the region and called on all sides to settle disputes peacefully adding that Australia does not take sides on South China Sea claims.Read More
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