http://www.foxbusiness.com/industries/2011/07/19/us-senators-warn-beijing-on-south-china-sea-clashes-ft/

Published July 19, 2011 | Dow Jones Newswires


Two influential U.S. senators are warning China that the country's recent naval clashes with neighbors in the South China Sea could escalate and jeopardize U.S. "national interests," the Financial Times reported Tuesday on its website, citing a letter from the two politicians to a Chinese official.

Sens. John Kerry, (D., Mass.), chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee, and John McCain, (R., Ariz.), a former presidential candidate, in a letter dated July 14 and sent to Dai Bingguo, China's top foreign policy official, warned of events in the region.

"We are concerned that a series of naval incidents in recent months has raised tensions in the region," the two said. "If appropriate steps are not taken to calm the situation, future incidents could escalate, jeopardizing the vital national interests of the United States."

Vietnam and the Philippines of late have claimed that China has harassed fishing and survey vessels. The area also serves as a sea lane for northeast Asian oil imports.

Full story at: www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/aceccff2-b1e2-11e0-a06c-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1SYkYHTBc

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i guess we own the south china sea...