China's Island Moves Draw Neighbors Closer to U.S., Carter Says
- Australian, U.S. defense and foreign ministers meet in Boston
- Conference comes as U.S. weighs challenging 12-mile claims
The nearly completed construction within the Fiery Cross Reef located in the South China Sea.
Photographer: DigitalGlobe/ScapeWare3d/DigitalGlobe/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
China’s island-building in the South China Sea is driving Asian nations to seek closer cooperation with the U.S., Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said.
The American defense chief made the comment Tuesday in response to a question -- which he didn’t answer -- about plans being weighed by the Obama administration to sail U.S. Navy ships inside the 12 nautical miles that China claims around man-made islands it created in the sea north of Australia.