The US has said it plans to return to contested areas of the South China Sea, with a top military commander saying it has conducted similar operations worldwide "for decades".
The sailing of a US warship within an area claimed by China last week angered Beijing, which issued a warning.
Adm Harry Harris, speaking in Beijing, said such moves should surprise no-one. An unnamed US official earlier told Reuters similar patrols would take place at least "twice a quarter".
Admiral Harris, of the US Pacific Command, said in a speech at Peking University: "We've been conducting freedom of navigation operations all over the world for decades, so no-one should be surprised by them." "Our military will continue to fly, sail, and operate whenever and wherever international law allows. The South China Sea is not - and will not - be an exception." But he also added that the operations, which he described as "routine", should "never be construed as a threat to any nation".
His remarks came a day after US deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes said ensuring freedom of navigation in the South China Sea was in the US interest. "We have a responsibility to demonstrate that we're going to be there but fostering peaceful resolutions," he added.
The US and China's naval commanders spoke by video link last week after the USS Lassen's trip. China told the US that a minor incident could spark conflict in South China Sea if the US did not stop its "provocative acts".
美國籌劃重返很有爭議的南海地域，其最高軍事批示官稱，美國幾十年來在全球規模內一向舉行著此類保護飛行自由原則的巡航。
美國兵艦進入中國上周宣告的國土地域，這一行動引發了中國當局的不滿和告誡。
美軍寧靖洋總部司令哈裏斯在北京時表現，人們不該該對美方的這一行動覺得受驚。一名不簽字美國當局官員初期告知路透社，美方將每季度將最少舉行兩次此類巡查。
美軍寧靖洋總部司令哈裏斯在北京大學演講時稱：“美國幾十年來一向在全球規模內舉行保護帆海和飛越自由的例行巡查，人們不該該對此類舉措覺得受驚。美軍將持續在任什麽時候間、任何所在利用國際法付與的飛行和飛越自由，南海不是破例。”他還說到，他所提到的“例行巡航”不該被看做是對任何國度的威逼。
哈裏斯揭櫫這番發言的前一天，美國國度平安事件副助理羅茲表現，保護美國在南海的飛行自由相符美國的好處。他還說到，“咱們有義務到那邊，然則咱們會追求寧靜的辦理方法。”
美國拉森號兵艦事宜以後，中美水師批示官在上周舉行了視頻對話。中方表現，假如美方一直止其“尋釁性行為”，相似的事宜將在南海引發辯論。
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