The U.S. is putting regional stability in East Asia at risk, a Chinese spokesman said Saturday following remarks by President Trump's Defense secretary that a U.S. commitment to defend Japanese territory applies to an island group that China claims. The islands that lie between Taiwan and Okinawa were under U.S. administration from the end of World War II until their return to Japan in 1972. Beijing objects to the system because its powerful radar would allow it to peer deep into northeastern China, possibly allowing it to observe Chinese military movements. At a Friday news conference, Lu said China's "resolute opposition to the deployment ... remains unchanged and will not change." The deployment "will jeopardize security and the strategic interests of regional countries, including China, and undermine the strategic balance in the region," Lu said.

Source: Los Angeles Times February 04, 2017 17:15 UTC