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Image source, Us navy
USS Mustin destroyer of the United States Navy
Tensions in the South China Sea have continued to rise with tough and escalating actions from both Washington and Beijing in recent days.
On Friday, the United States brought 11 more Chinese companies into view, as Beijing said it was the main launch of its military missiles in the waters between Hainan Island and the Paracel Islands. value.
Despite China’s launch of medium-range missiles on Wednesday to “ signal a warning, ” the US Navy sent the destroyer USS Mustin very close to the Paracel Islands the next day, Thursday, where China In fact, Quoc is in control.
The United States continues to expand the list of “Chinese military companies.”
There are 11 more Chinese companies, including construction giant China Communications Construction Company, identified as owned or controlled by the Chinese military, the Pentagon said on Friday, paving the way. for the introduction of new sanctions.
Earlier this year, the US Department of Defense identified the top 20 Chinese companies as military companies, with direct or indirect operations in the United States.
Among these are companies that are “owned or controlled” by the Chinese military, which specialize in providing commercial, manufacturing, processing or export services.
The Pentagon’s decision did not lead to the imposition of sanctions. However, under the 1999 law on the aggregation of this list, the president could issue sanctions, including blocking all assets of listed companies.
The updated list is likely to add to new tensions between the world’s two largest economies, which have been at odds on many issues for months.
Image source, fake images
China is accused of claiming and militarizing artificial islands in disputed areas in the South China Sea. The image is taken from the Subi Stone satellite in 2015, one of the sites that Beijing has built as a military installation in the Spratly Islands.
On Wednesday, the United States “blacklisted” 24 Chinese companies, including China Communications Construction Company, and individuals the United States said were involved in China’s construction or military actions in the South China Sea.
This is the first time the United States has imposed sanctions against Beijing for disputed strategic waters.
Hoang Sa: The United States sent warships, China said it was “justified” to fire missiles.
Beijing defended its decision to launch missiles during the exercises in the South China Sea as the US Navy continued to challenge the Chinese military, both with its actions and with its words.
The USS Mustin approached the Paracel Islands on Thursday, the United States Navy said, in an attempt to challenge Beijing’s claims in the South China Sea, just a day after China launched a ballistic missile into the waters. . .
CNN cites a US defense official on Aug. 29 as saying that the Chinese military launched four medium-range missiles from mainland China on Wednesday, although some sources previously said there were only two. is thrown.
The missiles, believed to be of the DF-26B and DF-21D type, slammed into the waters between Hainan Island and the Paracel Islands, the official said.
The Pentagon condemns China’s launching of ballistic missiles into disputed waters as “counterproductive in reducing tensions and maintaining stability.”
However, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijiang, during a press conference in Beijing on Friday, said the missile launch was justified because it was “routine operations carried out by the Chinese military.” . China in waters off the coast of China. “
Image source, fake images
A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry said on August 28 that China’s launch of the medium-range missile last week was justified.
“They are not targeting any country, nor do they have anything to do with the disputes,” Zhao said. “There is no basis or reason for any interested party to make a claim.”
The US Navy’s Pacific Fleet said in a statement that the destroyer USS Martin entered waters adjacent to the Paracel Islands to ensure that important shipping lanes continue to be maintained in the region. due to travel.
China on Friday accused the ship of entering Chinese territorial waters “without permission.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Beijing accused the United States of bringing a U-2 spy plane into the no-fly zone, disrupting China’s live fire drills.
The Chinese military said on Friday that the United States had repeatedly provoked an aggression in the South China Sea and urged the country to “immediately stop such provocations.”
