• Maritime Self-Defense Force sailors guide a Philippine Navy helicopter as it lands on the deck of the destroyer Harusame during a joint naval exercise Tuesday, less than 300 km from a Philippine-claimed shoal now under Chinese control in the South China Sea. The Pentagon is considering sending U.S. military aircraft and ships to the area in an effort to assert freedom of navigation. | AFP-JIJI
    Maritime Self-Defense Force sailors guide a Philippine Navy helicopter as it lands on the deck of the destroyer Harusame during a joint naval exercise Tuesday, less than 300 km from a Philippine-claimed shoal now under Chinese control in the South China Sea. The Pentagon is considering sending U.S. military aircraft and ships to the area in an effort to assert freedom of navigation. | AFP-JIJI

  • Reuters

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WASHINGTON – The Pentagon is considering sending U.S. military aircraft and ships to assert freedom of navigation around rapidly growing Chinese-made artificial islands in the disputed South China Sea, a U.S. official said Tuesday.

Defense Secretary Ash Carter requested options that include sending U.S. military ships and aircraft within 12 nautical miles (22 km) of reefs that China has been building up in the disputed Spratly Islands, the official said.

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