U.S. Navy ship sails close to disputed China islandsOctober 27, 2015 - 11:02 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A U.S. Navy ship has sailed close to artificial islands built by China in the disputed waters of the South China Sea, U.S. defence officials have said, according to Reuters. Guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen breached the 12-nautical mile zone China claims around Subi and Mischief reefs in the Spratly archipelago. The freedom of navigation operation represents a serious challenge to China's territorial claims. China said it was still verifying whether the operation had taken place. "If true, we advise the U.S. to think again and before acting, not act blindly or make trouble out of nothing," Foreign Minister Wang Yi said. China claims most of the South and East China seas. Other countries in South East Asia have competing claims for the Spratly Islands, Paracel Islands and Scarborough Shoal, which are thought to have resource-rich waters around them. The reefs, which were submerged, were turned into islands by China by a massive dredging project which began in late 2013. China says this work is legal and in a meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama last month in Washington, President Xi Jinping said China had "no intention to militarise" the islands. But Washington believes Beijing is constructing military facilities, designed to reinforce its disputed claim to most of the region - a major shipping zone. Photo: AP Related links: Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | U.S. believes peace is “possible” in South Caucasus The United States continues to believe that peace is possible in the South Caucasus, Vedant Patel said. Government reveals details from Pashinyan’s meeting in border village Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with a group of residents of a border village in Armenia’s northern Tavush province Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. |