US warns of ability to take down Chinese man-made islands

A Pentagon official has warned China that the US military could “take down” Beijing’s artificial islands in the South China Sea.

“I would just tell you that the United States military has had a lot of experience in the Western Pacific, taking down small islands,” Pentagon’s Joint Staff director said on Thursday in response to a reporter asking about whether the US has ability to “blow apart” China’s man-made islands in the South China Sea.

The indirect threat against China by Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Kenneth McKenzie came amid heightened tensions brewing between China and the US military in the South China Sea.