China alters landscape

China has fundamentally altered the physical and political landscape in the strategic South China Sea through militarisation and large-scale land reclamation, a top American admiral has claimed.

Chinese military modernisation is focused on defeating the US in Asia by countering US asymmetric advantages, Admiral Harry Harris, Commander of US Pacific Command told lawmakers during a Congressional hearing, reported TNN.

"North Korea continues to disregard UN sanctions by developing and threatening to use intercontinental ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons that will threaten the US Homeland," Harris said.

"China has fundamentally altered the physical and political landscape in the South China Sea through large scale land reclamation and by militarising these reclaimed features," Harris said.

He said China continues to press Japan in the East China Sea, stepping up diplomatic and economic pressure against Taiwan, and methodically trying to supplant US influence with "our friends and allies in the region".

"Furthermore, China is rapidly building a modern, capable military that appears to far exceed its stated defensive purpose or potential regional needs. China's military modernisation is focused on defeating the US in Asia by countering US asymmetric advantages," Harris alleged.

"China's near-term strategy is focused on building up combat power and positional advantage to be able to restrict freedom of navigation and overflight while asserting de facto sovereignty over disputed maritime features and spaces in the region," the top American commander said.

Meanwhile, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said yesterday there was no point protesting Chinese artificial island building in disputed areas of the South China Sea because it could not be stopped, reported AFP.

Duterte made the comments on the eve of him hosting a two-day Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit, and he confirmed he would not use the event to pressure China on its expansionism in the strategically vital waters.