A US guided-missile destroyer carried out a freedom of navigation operation (FONOP) near an artificial island controlled by China on Friday. China asserted that two People’s Liberation Army Navy frigates warded off the US vessel.
A US defense official confirmed to USNI News that the USS Mustin came within 12 nautical miles of Mischief Reef, an artificial island in the Spratly Island chain where China has built a big airfield. The US warship is also said to have conducted maneuvers near the Chinese base.
“It was America’s first such operation since January and came a day after US President Donald Trump announced it would levy US$60 billion worth of tariffs on Chinese imports – triggering immediate retaliation from Beijing,” said a report in the South China Morning Post.
China termed the US move a provocation. “China holds indisputable sovereignty over the islands and their surrounding waters in the South China Sea,” Chinese defense ministry spokesman Ren Guoqiang said in a statement via CNN. “By repeatedly sending military ships into these areas without authorization, the US has seriously harmed Chinese sovereignty and security, violated basic rules of international relations, and harmed regional peace and stability.”
US President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an order directing his trade representative to impose US$60 billion in tariffs on a range of Chinese products. Along with the tariffs, new investment restrictions will be erected and actions will be taken against China through the World Trade Organization, the president said. But the exact details of how and when Trump’s tariffs will be imposed remain unclear.
Chinese carrier headed toward South China Sea?
In related news, the Chinese Navy said, via the military’s official newspaper, on Friday that it is preparing to carry out combat drills in the South China Sea. The move was described as being part of regular annual naval exercises.
Taiwan’s defense ministry also said this week it had followed a Chinese aircraft carrier group as it passed through the Taiwan Strait in a southwesterly direction – toward the disputed South China Sea in what was believed to be a drill.
Yankees are strange animals….
They’re either a pack of blood thirsty hyenas ( symbolic of the Stormmy Daniels ) who hadn’t had a decent meal ( multi million dollar contracts appearances with the mass medias which make 150,000K compensation package look puny ) or, a school of pirañas attracted by the smells of blood ( Russian collusion ) of which in both instances can prove a dangerous proposition for all…
Imagine the guy getting so pissed about tge cherry pickin’s, collusion, and Stormy Daniels and takes to the button over it….
Scary Man….
It is obvious Indians do…
Testing testing.
Island building in SCS has precedence by Vietnam & Phillipines. There is no need to deny that US navy & planes are not loitering around Hainan island to track PLAN submarine activity & China is converting SCS to AA2D zone. At time of war, US military activity inside 1st island chain shall be quarantined. How would u feel if Russian or Chinese naval ship is spying outside Naval Base Kitsap?
Dave Ng they are always spying near our bases. That and they show up and try to interfere with our naval exercises with Japan.
Dan E Pedersen
***Island can be decimated in few minutes***
Well… Before these Islands are taken out (and decimated), the strategy behind them is that the long long arms of the Adamants and of Nicobar which equates to exactly that of the Parcels and if the Spratleys or Gwum, Clarke, Subic Bae, etc., etc., will…
Guaranteed, to be nullified, voided, or DF 15’ed, 16’ed, 17’ed, and 21D’ed…
***American desperation***
i beg ti differ. It’s not merly about military industrial complex… it’s more a case of 一山不能容二虎 and, ultimately, it will require an arm wrestling competition to determine who indeed is the champ and…
With a civilisation armed with a history behind it as the Chinese, and the mastery it is at hacking into skunkworks.usa, it’s going to be a migraine and a toughly Unc Sam to try and dislodge her from her throne as the chief architect of an Asia that’s existed since dawn in eternity, Unc Sam will have no choice in the matter but…
to prepare itself for a decisive fight…
It means that China is doing well.
Dave Ng…..According to the UNCLOS, artificial islands do not have the 12 nautical mile territorial waters. This means, even if a ship reaches the shore of the artificial island, it does not enter and Chinese territory, and still can do freedom of navigation, instead of innocent passage. It is apparent that Chinese officials do not know such a proivion in the UNCLOS and continued to charge the US for violating Chinese territorial right.
I really cant understand why beijing is so worried, jealous, threatened & intimidated by a mere sight of a foreign vessel in the vicinity of the spratleys, which is within the exclusive economic zone of the phillippines.its not their concern to impose restrictions in the area, afterall its not their territory. They must be the ones to leave the place they dont own, they’re just squatters!
What china claim terretorial dispute its not ur,fyi its part of continental shelf of phils,u are the squatter in our water!!!ru afraid in america?go ah3ad shot the boat of USA then u will no longer exis!!!!hahahaha
If only the US has stop the Chinese building before the militarize zone in the SCS they might not their atitude today because they see their selves stronger as of now because they have already build a fortitude in the middle of the disputed area. This time a war may be needed to stop this abusing China
And i would really love the war started the soonest..between USA and CHINA.to test which of the two countries has the best weaponry. Dont you think that as a good idea..i bet you will be busy finding a place where to hide.
Dan E Pedersen You are 100% correct. These artificial islands are easily destroyed.
Dan E Pedersen if same thing will do india on Indian Ocean…. ?
Tolits Mercado
Only if anyone on Earth could find a place to hide…
Dave Ng — as long as China and Russia do not enter the 12 nautical miles zone of international recognized USTerritorial water that should be fine with the US.
Tolits Mercado You’re stupid!
http://archive.heritageaction.com/stoplost/why-the-law-of-the-sea-treaty-is-still-a-bad-idea/
https://thediplomat.com/2015/06/who-is-the-biggest-aggressor-in-the-south-china-sea/
http://www.manilatimes.net/vietnam-serious-threat-us-south-china-sea-dispute/344307/
The area where the US destroyer, USS Mustin, is part of the West Phillipine Seas which exclusive economic zone is owned by the Philippines as judged by an International Court in The Hague which also declared that the Chinese claim is not valid. The USS Mustin has all the right to pass there in any direction it wants. It is China creating the problems in that area and not the US Navy.
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/141195/un-international-court-had-no-role-in-philippines-case/amp
FONOP is the surest way to drive China to re-arm to the "teeth". Western allies & Japan collude to bully China "a hundred years" ago is still fresh in the memory of the Chinese. Do you blame China for wanting to be strong?
Go ahead China, make your day. It’s time for you to walk the talk if the US is violating your rule. US want to kick your ass. Are you not aware of this?
Dan E Pedersen Remember the Philippines already won a case against China in ITLOS. ITLOS has decided that the Philippines has exclusive sovereign rights over part of South China Sea being claimed by China through their "nine-dash-line"policy.
bec china was sleeping back then. Now they were awaken by uss burke. lol
Keep on believing that you are stronger than US.. One wrong move, then you’re done..
Mga bobo
Similar to India facing a two-front situation – China on the northern flank and Pakistan on the western flank, China also faces a two-front scenario – South China Sea disputes on one hand and India breathing down it’s neck on the other side.
China can only watch us carrier passby but can’t do nothing as they are scared of migth us take action or maybe shooting down an chinese aircraft,, lol
Lets pray that nothing happens that will ignite world war three or else it will be the end of mankind.
If the World Trade Organization were to take any action against China after filing to take any action against the United States for their illegal sanctions against Russia and Iran, it will have defiled itself beyond redemption. It will show that just like the United Nations, it is nothing more than a mouthpiece for the United States.
They are concerned because missile defense systems have powerful radars which can penetrate deep into nearby territories and used for gathering information
Tolits Mercado, you’re an idiot!
Tolits Mercado you’re mentally retarded!
Tolits Mercado you dont know what your talking about… if these two big countries will be at war the whole would will suffer because of nuclear radiation including the Philippines remember these are nuclear countries
Hmmmm China is really so strong now. They can just shoo away american boats just like that. I think Duterte is justified in siding with the chinks.
How about philippine souveriegn rights over those islands?
i don’t blame you.
just do not get what is not yours specially islands that are very far from your mainland.
Kalivati Turagaca, yeah..that’s what they do best..they used to wipe the native Americans. These barbaric yanks are simply warmongerers. It is in their DNA.
Dan E Pedersen the flavour already tells you what’s cooking.
Go ahead, make my day.
A big slap on the face of china, c’mon fire on the US ship doing the Fnop. China you are the undisputed owner of that territory being sailed upon by d US ship.? Oh., this is not only a HARD SLAP BUT ALSO A SPIT ON THE FACE OF THE OWNER HA..Oh, china… You are capable only on bullying small militarily neighbors. I tell you china, the SHAMELESS LAND GRABBER OF THE TERRITORY OF ALL NATIONS, this very hard insult will go on until such time you won’t abandon your greediness claiming ownership of SCS, unless you defeat the US Navy in a war….
Tolits Mercado Before you fall in love of war, you better try to find a cave somewhere near Tibet deep enough to stay away from nuclear dust. Of course you can’t find nowhere to hide in plains like America where you see the small hill like The Rockies.