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Paul Richter | AP | August 04, 2012 11:36AM



THE UNITED STATES has warned China to "back off'' as tensions rise to flashpoint in the South
China Sea.

In a statement, the US State Department cautioned China about its addition of a military garrison and
civilian officials near the contested Scarborough Reef and its use of barriers to deny access to foreign
ships.

These moves "run counter to collaborative diplomatic efforts to resolve differences and risk further
escalating tensions in the region", said the statement, issued early on Friday morning and attributed to
Patrick Ventrell, the acting deputy spokesman.

Six countries have complex competing claims to the region's water and islands, which are rich in fish,
oil and gas and other resources.

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Analysts cautioned that by singling out China at a time when several nations have been pushing claims,
the Obama administration may confirm Chinese fears that it is strengthening security ties in South-East
Asia to limit the expansion of Chinese power.

"It's very likely that China will read this as unnecessary, and confirming its concerns that the US is
actively seeking to line up with South-East Asia against it," said Kenneth Lieberthal, a China specialist at
the Brookings Institution and a former Clinton administration official.

Administration officials said last year they were shifting their foreign policy attention more to East Asia
and have announced a series of steps to reinforce security ties with Vietnam, the Philippines, Australia
and other countries.