China to increase patrols after US warship dispute

CHINA has vowed to increase sea and air patrols after a US warship sailed near a disputed island in the South China Sea in what Beijing called a “serious political and military provocation”.

China sent fighter jets and military vessels to meet the USS Stethem during the confrontation, which was followed by a phone call between Donald

‘China-us relations have achieved important outcomes but they have been affected by negative factors.’

Trump, the US President, and Xi Jinping, the Chinese leader, in which Mr Xi said that a number of “negative factors” were affecting China-united States relations. Washington has previously conducted what it calls “freedom of navigation” patrols in disputed waters in the South China Sea.

The patrol on Sunday, within 12 nautical miles of Triton island which is claimed by China, Taiwan and Vietnam, was the latest in a string of recent incidents that have damaged relations between Washington and Beijing.

Mr Trump approved a $1.3 billion (£1 billion) arms sale to Taiwan last week, an island that Beijing views as a renegade Chinese province. He also riled Beijing by imposing sanctions on a Chinese bank accused of laundering North Korean cash.

Chinese officials were also incensed by the American state department expressing concern about the erosion of freedoms in Hong Kong before the 20th anniversary of the handover of the former British colony to China.

Mr Trump appeared to have struck a productive relationship with his Chinese counterpart when the pair met in Florida in April. After the meeting, Mr Trump called Mr Xi a “very good man”.

Some observers believe Mr Trump’s attitude hardened after he realised that Beijing was not going to exert enough pressure on North Korea to stop them from developing weapons which could strike the United States. According to China’s foreign ministry, Mr Xi told Mr Trump in their scheduled call that Beijing expects Washington to continue managing relations on the basis of the “one China” principle that rules out formal contacts with Taiwan.

“Xi Jinping emphasised that, since meetings with the President at Mar-alago, China-us relations have achieved important outcomes,” a Chinese statement said. “At the same time, bilateral relations have been affected by some negative factors.”