islands in the South China Sea. The Pentagon says the B52s were contacted

by Chinese air traffic control but continued to fly their mission as directed.

Connie Kim reports. In a move that could further enflame tension

between Washington and Beijing，... it has emerged the Pentagon flew two B－52 bombers

near China′s artificial islands in the South China Sea earlier this week.

Pentagon spokesman Bill Urban said Thursday that the B－52s were on a routine mission

in the South China Sea taking off from and returning to Guam， but did not go within

12－nautical－miles of the islands. Twelve nautical miles around a territory is

internationally recognized as sovereign territory， but the U.S. does not recognize China′s

claim to the artificial islands. Tension escalated late last month after an

American destroyer challenged territorial limits around one of China′s man－made

islands in the Spratlys. The Spratlys are a disputed group of more

than 750 reefs， islets， atolls， cays and islands claimed by China and four other

countries， including Vietnam and the Philippines. The U.S. says the patrols are within its rights

under freedom of navigation. But Beijing has so far held firm to its stance，

saying it will ″never allow any country″ to violate its territorial waters and airspace

in the area. The latest patrol comes days before U.S. President

Barack Obama′s trip to Manila for the APEC Summit.

There， Obama is expected to voice Washington′s commitment to freedom of navigation and overflight

in the area. Chinese President Xi Jinping will also attend

the APEC talks. The White House says no decision has been

made on whether to put the South China Sea issue on the formal agenda.

Connie Kim， Arirang News.