Navy brass confer on South China Sea dispute

Top Chinese and United States naval officials held talks on Thursday amid fresh tension in the South China Sea following the USS Lassen's high-profile entry into the waters near isles claimed by China.

Admiral Wu Shengli, commander of the People's Liberation Army Navy, and his US counterpart, Admiral John Richardson, chief of Naval Operations, took part in a video conference to discuss ongoing engagements between the two navies and recent operations in the sea, according to a statement by Richardson's office after the talk.

It was the second time the two had engaged with each other over video teleconference, the last being in August when they were introduced by Richardson's predecessor, Jonathan Greenert.

During the Thursday call, the two discussed US freedom of navigation operations; the relationship between the two navies, including pending port visits and senior leader engagement; and the importance of maintaining an ongoing dialogue, according to the statement.

It said both admirals agreed to speak again later this year.

Early next week, PLA Navy hospital ship Peace Ark will pay a visit to San Diego, California, while a PLA Navy fleet of three vessels will pay a port call to Mayport naval stations in Jacksonville, Florida.

US Pacific Command Commander Harry Harris and US Pacific Fleet Commander Scott Swift are also scheduled to visit China in early November. Several US Navy ships are also expected to pay port call in China in the coming two months.

On Tuesday morning Beijing time, the Lassen, a guided missile destroyer home ported at the US' Yokosuka Naval Base in Yokosuka, Japan, came near an isle claimed by China in the South China Sea.

The news appeared to be deliberately leaked to the news media by Pentagon sources, although Defense Secretary Ash Carter refused to confirm the report nor talk about the specifics of the operation during a Senate hearing on Tuesday.

The action has been seen by the Chinese as a fresh provocation just a month after President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to the US. Most Chinese believe the US is biased in handling the maritime territorial disputes between China and some US allies in the region.

The Chinese Ministry of National Defense has not released a statement after the video teleconference. But ministry spokesman Yang Yujun said hours before the talk that Wu was expected to express "a solemn and just stance" to Richardson on behalf of China regarding the Nansha incident.

Yang said China will not exclude any options in its efforts to protect its sovereignty in the South China Sea. "The Chinese military has strong determination, enough power and many options. We will take all measures necessary based on our needs to cope with any security threats," he said.

"Such action by the US threatened China's national sovereignty and security, endangered the safety of personnel and facilities on the related islands and the safety of Chinese fishermen's normal operations, and it damaged regional peace and stability," Yang said about the US Navy action.

Contact the writer at chenweihua@chinadailyusa.com