The Pentagon is considering sending US military aircraft and ships to assert freedom of navigation around rapidly growing Chinese-made artificial islands in the disputed South China Sea, a US official said on Tuesday. US Defense Secretary Ash Carter requested options that include sending US military ships and aircraft within 22 kilometers of reefs that China has been building up in the disputed Spratly Islands, the official said. Such a move would directly challenge Chinese efforts to expand its influence in the disputed region by literally adding territory through massive island-building.

US military ships may patrol disputed sea. (2015, May 14). Philippine Daily Inquirer, pp. A1, A4.