The USS Lassen sailed in the Spratly archipelago on Tuesday as a challenge to China’s claim over the islands.
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If Beijing fails to react strongly, it would imply Xi accepts the rule of worldwide law, which would raise doubts about Xi’s foreign affairs policy among Chinese hawks, such as People’s Liberation Army Major General Luo Yuan (羅援), who has said that China must deal severe blows to any foreign power acting against China’s national interests. Notwithstanding the Chinese allegations of a provocative behaviour after the USA warship entered the disputed SCS, a U.S. official has said in Washington that US Navy will send more warships to sail close to the artificial islands built by Beijing in the disputed waters.
“Australia has been looking at options”, said one official in Australia’s military familiar with operational planning.
“Whether from the perspective of history, geography, or global law, the Nansha (Spratly) Islands, Shisha (Paracel) Islands, Chungsha (Macclesfield Bank), and Tungsha (Pratas) Islands, as well as their surrounding waters, are an inherent part of ROC territory and waters”, the Taiwan government said in a statement.
Historical documents, archaeological findings, field studies and oral information have all recorded Chinese religious sites, an important basis for China’s claim of sovereignty, Chen said. “Misinterpretation by the United States may cause more miscalculation and could lead to crisis”, it said. This is an important region, as 40% of the world’s trade passes through the South China Sea. “But at the same time, they were talking and eventually found that balancing point – the USA ensured Taiwan would not become an independent country and China promised not to start a war on the island”, he said. But China should move carefully to avoid military conflict, he said.
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Shanghai-based military expert Ni Lexiong said Washington would continue to send warships to the waters to make a point of their so-called freedom of navigation rights, and Beijing would also continue to condemn the moves and send vessels to shadow their unwelcomed visits.
