China has artillery in South China Sea: US

The United States yesterday said that China had placed mobile artillery weapons systems on a reclaimed island in the disputed South China Sea, a development that Republican Sen John McCain called "disturbing and escalatory."

Brent Colburn, a Pentagon spokesman traveling with Defense Secretary Ash Carter, said US was aware of the weapons.

In Beijing, China's foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said she had no information on the weapons.

Carter called on Wednesday for an immediate halt to land reclamation in the South China Sea and was expected to touch on the issue of maritime security and freedom of navigation again on Saturday in a speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue security conference in Singapore.

China says the islands are in sovereign Chinese territory.

Asian military attaches and analysts said the placement of mobile artillery pieces appeared to be a symbol of intent, rather than any major development that could tilt any balance of power.