In disregard to China’s call not to disturb peace in the South China Sea, the United States has carried out another “freedom of navigation” mission there, with a U.S. Navy destroyer sailing within 12 nautical miles off Zhongjian Dao, part of China-owned Xisha Islands.
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China’s foreign ministry and defense ministry both issued statements saying the US vessel had violated a Chinese law requiring foreign warships to seek approval from Beijing to enter its territorial waters.
The development comes three months after U.S. warship USS Lassen sailed within 12 nautical miles of an artificial island Beijing is building in the Spratly Islands, triggering a major face-off.
Retired Navy Capt. Jim Fanell, former Pacific Fleet intelligence chief, said Saturday’s operation was “a strategically important event that unambiguously demonstrates the continued resolve of the United States to challenge the unilateral actions of China’s maritime sovereignty campaign in the South China Sea”.
“All maritime claims must comply with worldwide law”.
The South China Sea is a major shipping route for trade, with roughly $5tn (£3.5tn) of trade making its way through the region each year – and the United States believes that the passage should be regarded as worldwide waters.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused the U.S. action of being “intentionally provocative” and “irresponsible and extremely dangerous”. In reality, the USA has never ratified UNCLOS and acts with scant regard for global law.
These operations are unlikely to cease as the United States asserts the prevalence of global law over the claims of China that have yet to be acknowledged by the worldwide community.
“We urge the USA side to respect and abide by the relevant Chinese law, and do more things that may contribute to the mutual trust between China and the USA, as well as regional peace”, the statement added.
“Regardless of whatever provocative steps the American side takes, China’s military will take all necessary measures to firmly safeguard national sovereignty and security”, the ministry statement concluded.
“Chinese troops stationed on the islands, naval ships and airplanes made an immediate response, took countermeasures and conducted identification and verification (action) against the USA warship,”Yang said”. And in December, two US bombers flew into the airspace over a Chinese-controlled island and reef in the same waters.
For the sake of healthy development of Sino-U.S. relations as well as the stability of the South China Sea, it is imperative that Uncle Sam stop making waves in the busy body of water and making trouble out of nothing in the now peaceful area. No Chinese vessels were in the area at the time, the Pentagon said.
“The excessive claims regarding Triton Island are inconsistent with global law as reflected in the Law of the Sea Convention”.
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“The U.S. side is fully aware of this, yet it still sent its warship into China’ s territorial sea without authorization”.
