China’s military has reportedly fired two powerful missiles – including one known as the “aircraft carrier killer” as a pointed warning to Unites States (US) and tensions continue to rise in the South China Sea dispute.
According to reports Beijing fired one intermediate-range ballistic missile, DF-26B, from Qinghai Province and another medium-range ballistic missile, DF-21D, from Zhejiang Province on Wednesday in response to US aerial activities in a “no-fly zone” area.
US defense chief, Mark Esper gave a statement that, China has repeatedly fallen short of promises to abide by international laws, noting that China seems to be flexing its muscles the most in Southeast Asia.
Two missiles were fired into the strategically vital waters in the direction of the area between Hainan province and the disputed Paracel Islands, Hong Kong.
Taking this to twitter, China’s ambassador to United Kingdom, Liu Xiaoming, said that the US move “severely disrupted” China’s normal exercises and “training activities.”
Zhao Lijian, China’s foreign ministry spokesman described the spy plane over-flight as “provocative actions” and urged the US to stop.
After the confirmation of from US officials that the missiles were fired an investigation was launched to check exactly what type of missiles were fired.
The US blacklisted 24 Chinese companies blaming them of being part of construction and military actions in the South China Sea after the news of missile launch came.
According to US Commerce Department two dozen companies played a “role in helping the Chinese military construct and militarize the internationally condemned artificial islands in the South China Sea.”
The State Department also issued a statement that said,“ We will impose visa restrictions on Chinese individuals responsible for or complicit in, such actions and those linked to China’s use of coercion against Southeast Asian claimants to inhibit their access to offshore resources.”
A spokesperson for China’s embassy in Washington condemned the US sanctions as “completely unreasonable,” and urged the US to reverse them.
“(South China Sea Islands) is an integral part of China’s territory, and it is fully justified for us to build facilities and deploy necessary defense equipment there,” the spokesperson said.
“The Chinese government has a firm determination to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.”