US warns 'aggressive' Beijing in South China Sea

Sydney

THE United States will keep challenging Beijing's "assertive, aggressive behaviour in the South China Sea", the US Pacific commander said on Wednesday, as tensions between the two powers rise over comments by Donald Trump.

Admiral Harry Harris, head of the US Pacific Command, warned Washington would not accept Chinese control of the region, despite Beijing's rapid development of artificial islands capable of hosting military planes.

His remarks come as Beijing reacted angrily after Mr Trump, the US president-elect, broke convention by speaking directly to Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen - and suggested Washington …