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.
https://thediplomat.com/2015/06/who-is-the-biggest-aggressor-in-the-south-china-sea/
http://archive.heritageaction.com/stoplost/why-the-law-of-the-sea-treaty-is-still-a-bad-idea/
Tolits Mercado You’re stupid!
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
Only if anyone on Earth could find a place to hide…
Dan E Pedersen if same thing will do india on Indian Ocean…. ?
Dan E Pedersen You are 100% correct. These artificial islands are easily destroyed.
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.
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
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
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!
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.
It means that China is doing well.
***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…
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…
Dave Ng they are always spying near our bases. That and they show up and try to interfere with our naval exercises with Japan.
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?
Testing testing.
It is obvious Indians do…
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….