The chairman of the influential U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee on Monday criticized the Obama administration for delaying further “freedom of navigation” patrols within 12 nautical miles of islands built by China in the South China Sea. Senator John McCain said in a statement that the lack of U.S. action was allowing China to continue to “pursue its territorial ambitions” in the region, most recently by landing a plane on a man-made island in the Spratly Islands archipelago on Saturday.

Shalal, A. (2016, January 06). McCain blasts lack of US patrols in South China Sea. Malaya, p. B5.