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Pentagon Confirms B-52 Bomber Flew Over South China Sea

© AFP 2023 / POOL / RITCHIE B. TONGO Spratly group of islands in the South China Sea, west of Palawan
Spratly group of islands in the South China Sea, west of Palawan - Sputnik International
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A US B-52 strategic bomber recently flew near Chinese man-made islands in the South China Sea, the Pentagon said on Thursday.

The disputed waters have been a point of contention between Beijing and Washington. The United States does not recognize China's claims of sovereignty over the man-made islands.

On Thursday, the Pentagon said the bomber was contacted by Chinese ground controllers, but continued its mission undeterred, Reuters reported.

"We conduct B-52 flights in international air space in that part of the world all the time," Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook told a briefing.

"My understanding is there was one B-52 flight, I'm not even sure the date on it, but there was an effort made by Chinese ground controllers to reach out to that aircraft and that aircraft continued its mission…. Nothing changed."

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., listens as Republican presidential candidate Lindsey Graham speaks defending McCain's military record during a town hall meeting at the 3 West Club to launch Graham's “No Nukes for Iran” tour Monday, July 20, 2015, in New York - Sputnik International
Senator John McCain Calls on Pentagon to Clarify South China Sea Objectives

The announcement from the Pentagon comes as tensions are still simmering after Washington sent a US warship within 12 nautical miles of the manmade islands.

On October 27, the USS Lassen sailed near the Spratly islands in a challenge to China's territorial claims in the region.

The Pentagon last week pledged to continue such patrols in the region in accordance with freedom of navigation and international law.

Roughly $5 trillion in trade passes through the South China Sea annually. While China claims over 90% of the region, there are overlapping claims from Malaysia, Taiwan, Brunei, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

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