The U.S. government is closely monitoring Chinese military activity on disputed islands in the South China Sea, said Marine Commandant Gen. Robert Neller.
"Just like they pay attention to what we do, we're paying very close attention to what they do," Neller said Friday at the Brookings Institution think tank in Washington, D.C.
The Chinese have placed surface-to-air missiles and advanced jet fighters on Woody Island in the Paracel chain while turning reefs into artificial islands in the Spratly Islands. The U.S. considers those regions to be in international waters.
To challenge Chinese territorial claims in the South China Sea, the U.S. has twice sent Navy ships to sail close to the disputed islands in missions dubbed "freedom of navigation exercises." Most recently, the destroyer Curtis Wilbur sailed within the 12-nautical-mile territorial limit of Triton Island in the Paracel chain on Jan. 30.
The U.S. will continue to operate in the region "within our rights within international law," Neller said at Friday's event.
"We don't want to pick a fight with anybody but we're going to maintain our rights of passage through international waters," Neller said. "As long they don't put at risk any of our allies that we have a treaty with, we'll continue to coordinate and work with them."
The head of U.S. Pacific Command told reporters Thursday to expect more exercises in the waters claimed by the Chinese.
"I think we need to, and we must, continue to exercise our rights of freedom of navigation in international waters and airspace, and encourage others — encourage that like-minded network of nations to do the same," Adm. Harry Harris said at a news conference at the Pentagon.
