The South China Sea has long been a disputed territory in Asia. The Chinese government has claimed large parts of the area and demanded control of it.

In addition to the fact that China claims to be entitled to about 90 percent of it, it has also built a military base on one of the islands, something that not only irritated the United States but also countries in the immediate area such as Taiwan, Vietnam and the Philippines.

The dispute over the South China Sea has intensified in recent days and the tone between the United States and China has escalated. Yesterday, Monday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued a clear statement dismissing all Chinese claims on the territory.

In a statement, Pompeo claims that "Beijing's claims on sea-based resources in large parts of the South China Sea are illegal, including their bullying campaign to control them."

Pompeo also says that the world will not allow China to treat the area as its maritime empire. The tone was further raised when a top diplomat with responsibility for East Asian policy did not want to rule out possible sanctions against China.

Beijing responded by claiming how US action contributes to deteriorating relations between the countries and that the country deliberately distorts facts.

Earlier this month, the United States sent two aircraft carriers to the South China Sea. The operation, aimed at an "open and free Indo-Pacific region", was carried out at the same time as China's military exercise at sea.

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