Beijing names military chiefs in Spratlys; Palace downplays UN force suggestion
- Written by Tribune
- Saturday, 28 July 2012
This is Beijing’s latest step to bolster claims to disputed islands in the area.
The defense ministry announced the appointments Thursday, the China Daily said, two days after China said it had established the city of Sansha on an island in the disputed Paracel chain, along with the military garrison.
The Philippines reacted to the move, summoning the Chinese ambassador to lodge a complaint against the garrison announcement.
Defense ministry spokesman Yang Yujun said the new garrison was responsible for guarding the city and disaster relief, among other functions, according to China Daily.
He, however, added a separate maritime garrison under the Chinese navy was responsible for maritime defense and military combat, appearing to suggest that the Sansha garrison would not have such responsibilities.
China says it owns much of the South China Sea, though the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Brunei and Malaysia each claim portions of it..... MORE
Source: The Daily Tribune
URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/index.php/headlines/item/2128-beijing-names-military-chiefs-in-spratlys-palace-downplays-un-force-suggestion
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