Strike when necessary in South China Sea: Chinese scholar

Taipei, May 27 (CNA) China should hit out when necessary to resolve rows over some shoals in the South China Sea that are unlawfully occupied by other countries, a Chinese scholar has urged.

In a recent interview with a Shanghai-based radio, Han Xudong, a professor at the PLA National Defense University, issued the call on grounds that it is hard to settle the territorial disputes in that region through soft power such as “diplomatic maneuvering” and China “should strike at any time when necessary against any attempt by other countries to take control of the islets there.”