The U.S. "discovery" of a surface-to-air missile (SAM) capability on one of the Paracel Islands has been fielded as a new political tool to cry foul against China for breach of its commitment "not to militarize" the Spratly Island disputes.
Writing in a personal capacity in Real Clear Defense on Feb. 19, U.S. Navy officer Chris Poulin described the deployment of missiles by China as a "provocation" and implied, by quoting Secretary of State John Kerry, as follows, that this was in breach of a commitment by China: "When President Xi was here in Washington, he stood in the Rose Garden with President Obama and said China will not militarize the South China Sea. But there is evidence every day that there has been an increase in militarization."
According to the White House, here is what Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Sept. 22 in the Rose Garden: