China warns on South China Sea as U.S., India consider patrols

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman has made statement encouraging the U.S. and India to rethink any proposed joint naval patrols in the South China Sea. Reuters reports that, while there are no set plans for joint naval patrols at this time, there have been talks discussing the possibility of holding them in the future. China views this as needlessly provocative, and has warned the U.S. against militarizing the area. The United States is concerned about Chinese territorial claims to the South China Sea adversely affecting trade routes. India, which has had border disputes with China in the past, has been increasing its naval capabilities, including sending forces outside the Indian Ocean. However, neither the U.S. nor India has any claim to the South China Sea.