Now， we join Bruce Harrison in the newscenter for international headlines. Bruce， the United States and China are arguging over disputed territory in the South China Sea.
Beijing claims a U.S. Navy warship came too close to one of it′s islands.
It′s an issue of control in those waters... where trade is very important.
Hello Daniel， yes， a massive chunk of the world′s trade flows through that area. So it′s understandable why China′s making territorial claims... and why the U.S. wants to challenge those claims... this time with a warship patrol.
Both sides are essentially saying... the other side′s making a power grab.
We now here from Son Jung－in on the dispute... and whether a resolution′s in sight.
U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter has confirmed that the guided－missile destroyer USS Lassen traveled within twelve nautical miles of artificial islands created by China last year in the disputed Spratly Islands chain.
Carter testified during a congressional hearing on Tuesday， local time， that the American destroyer entered the waters without Beijing′s permission.
He added that the U.S. will continue with the routine activities as it is allowed to do under international law.
Reuters － Edit No： 2312
″We have said， and we are acting on the basis of saying， that we will fly， sail， and operate wherever international law permits.
The disputed Spratly Islands have been a source of rising tensions between Washington and Beijing， especially since China transformed reefs in the area into small islands capable of supporting military facilities.
The U.S. has repeatedly said it does not recognize Chinese claims to territorial waters around the artificial islands.
The U.S. operations infuriated Beijing， prompting China′s Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui to summon U.S. Ambassador Max Baucus on Tuesday to protest what he called a serious provocation that threatens China′s sovereignty and security interests.
Watchers say the spike in tension is not expected to lessen anytime soon as both countries are confronting the issue head on.
Sohn Jung－in， Arirang News.
