BEIJING, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- China accused the United States of a "serious military provocation" for allegedly flying B-52 bombers over the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.
China said two U.S. bombers flew in the airspace near the islands on Dec. 10, putting the country's military on high alert. The country's Ministry of National Defense accused the United States of making a show of force to create tensions in the disputed region over the manmade islands, located in one of the busiest maritime trade routes worldwide. The Chinese government filed a formal diplomatic complaint with the U.S. Embassy in Beijing.