China Fires Missiles Into South China Sea in ‘Warning’ to US

Missiles fired after US spy plane interrupted drills

China has fired missiles into disputed territory in the South China Sea today, which officials say are meant to be a “warning” to the US after a U-2 spy plane intruded on China’s naval drill in the area, entering a no-fly zone.

One of the missiles was a DF-26 missile, a nuclear-capable missile, and the other a DF-21D, an anti-ship ballistic missile. China said the firing was meant to show they can deny access to the South China Sea militarily.

The US responded by blacklisting a number of Chinese officials accused of involvement in the South China Sea, as well as Chinese executives whose companies are active there. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says the blacklist included a travel ban.

This is just the latest sign of tensions between the US and China. The US rejects all Chinese claims in the South China Sea, and regularly sends ships into the area to prove they can send ships there in violation of the maritime claims.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.