US warns Beijing on South China Sea
Washington, June 1: The Pentagon has ratcheted up rhetoric about China's militarisation of islands in the South China Sea, even as President Donald Trump's administration presses Beijing for cooperation on North Korea, the media reported.
When asked by a reporter about the ability of the US to "blow apart" one of China's controversial man-made islands, Lt. Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, director of the Joint Staff, said on Thursday: "I would just tell you that the US military has had a lot of experience in the Western Pacific taking down small islands."
His comments come amid growing tension in highly contested region, as the US ramps up freedom of navigation operations in response to China's steady militarisation of its artificial islands, reports CNN.
The US Navy sailed two warships within 12 nautical miles of the disputed Paracel Islands last week, the first time it has used more than one vessel in the operations, which are meant to demonstrate the right of free passage in international waters.
On Wednesday, Admiral Harry Harris, outgoing head of the US Indo-Pacific Command, said China was the US's "biggest long-term challenge" in the region.
The Chinese government has reacted furiously to the recent US statements, CNN reported.
At her regular press conference on Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the US accusing China of militarising the region was "like a thief crying, 'Stop thief!'".
"Why does the US choose to sail every now and then close to Chinese South China Sea islands and reefs? What is the US trying to do?" she asked.
The US regularly conducts freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea.
During the latest operation, the US said a Chinese ship operated in an unprofessional manner close to the American Navy ships.
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26-year-old Telangana student shot dead in US
Hyderabad, Jan 20 (PTI): A 26-year-old student from Telangana was allegedly shot dead in the US by unidentified persons, his family members said here on Monday.
K Ravi Teja, who completed MS and was looking for a job, was living in Connecticut.
The family received information about his death from a relative staying in America.
However, the circumstances leading to his death were unclear, the family members said, adding the incident is said to have happened in Washington DC.
Teja, who went to the US in 2022 to pursue MS after completing engineering from a private college here, was doing part-time jobs, his cousin Santosh told PTI.
Teja's sister, who also lives in the US, has reached the hospital where the body was kept.
Teja's father Chandramouli was inconsolable as he spoke to reporters about the tragic death of his son.
He said his son was looking for a job after completing MS eight months ago and was hoping to secure a job in March this year, and would visit them after getting a job.
Chandramouli said he last spoke to Teja on January 18 night.
He also said his son had asked him to come down to the US.
"I got him educated by driving a taxi. We sent him to the US by selling off a small piece of land we had. He brought me to a level (in society) but left me now," Chandramouli said.
He urged the government to help in bringing back his mortal remains here as early as possible.
"I have come to know that my son was shot dead. I am told that it will take seven days. My appeal to the government is to send back the mortal remains as early as possible. I am not able to speak anything else... I sent him alive, but his body will come now," a grieving Chandramouli said.
Asked about the condition of Teja's mother, he said she is like the family's bedrock which has now shattered. "What can be said about her," he said.
The family belongs to Nalgonda district in Telangana and lived in Chaitanyapuri in Hyderabad.
In November 2024, a 22-year-old youth from Khammam district of Telangana was shot dead by miscreants at a gas station in the United States where he was working, family members had said.
