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| US concern over South China Sea 'dangerous conduct' | US concern over South China Sea 'dangerous conduct' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The US has spoken out over "dangerous conduct and intimidation" in the South China Sea, after ships from Vietnam and China collided in disputed waters. | The US has spoken out over "dangerous conduct and intimidation" in the South China Sea, after ships from Vietnam and China collided in disputed waters. |
| The collisions came as the Vietnamese ships tried to prevent China setting up an oil rig near the Paracel islands. | The collisions came as the Vietnamese ships tried to prevent China setting up an oil rig near the Paracel islands. |
| The incident is the most serious between the countries at sea in years, with dozens of boats now in the area. | The incident is the most serious between the countries at sea in years, with dozens of boats now in the area. |
| The US state department called Beijing's move to introduce an oil rig in the area "provocative". | The US state department called Beijing's move to introduce an oil rig in the area "provocative". |
| "This unilateral action appears to be part of a broader pattern of Chinese behaviour to advance its claims over disputed territory in a manner that undermines peace and stability in the region," spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement. | "This unilateral action appears to be part of a broader pattern of Chinese behaviour to advance its claims over disputed territory in a manner that undermines peace and stability in the region," spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement. |
| "We are also very concerned about dangerous conduct and intimidation by vessels operating in this area," she said, calling on all parties to operate in a "safe and professional manner". | "We are also very concerned about dangerous conduct and intimidation by vessels operating in this area," she said, calling on all parties to operate in a "safe and professional manner". |
| The events, she added, highlighted the need for claimants to disputed areas to clarify their claims in accordance with international law. | The events, she added, highlighted the need for claimants to disputed areas to clarify their claims in accordance with international law. |
| The incidents - of which there are reported to have been at least three - took place close to the Paracel islands, which are controlled by China but also claimed by Vietnam. | |
| They came after China announced last week that it was moving a drilling rig into the area. | They came after China announced last week that it was moving a drilling rig into the area. |
| Vietnam said it had sent maritime police and fisheries vessels, and showed footage at a news conference of Chinese ships ramming its vessels. Six officials had been injured, it said. | Vietnam said it had sent maritime police and fisheries vessels, and showed footage at a news conference of Chinese ships ramming its vessels. Six officials had been injured, it said. |
| China, meanwhile, said the "disruptive activities by the Vietnamese side are in violation of China's sovereign rights". | China, meanwhile, said the "disruptive activities by the Vietnamese side are in violation of China's sovereign rights". |
| Tensions have risen over the South China Sea in recent years. China claims a U-shaped swathe that overlaps areas claimed by several of its neighbours. | Tensions have risen over the South China Sea in recent years. China claims a U-shaped swathe that overlaps areas claimed by several of its neighbours. |
| The Philippines is currently taking China to the UN court over maritime territorial disputes between the two. | The Philippines is currently taking China to the UN court over maritime territorial disputes between the two. |
| On Wednesday, Philippine police seized a Chinese fishing boat and detained its 11 crew in another disputed part of the South China Sea, prompting a protest from China. | On Wednesday, Philippine police seized a Chinese fishing boat and detained its 11 crew in another disputed part of the South China Sea, prompting a protest from China. |