China’s military claimed on Tuesday that a US guided-missile cruiser “trespassed” its waters near the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, though the US Navy called the claims “false”.
“The guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville entered the waters adjacent to the islands and reefs of China’s Spratly Islands without the approval of the Chinese government,” China’s Defense Ministry said, adding that its “Southern Theater Command organized air and naval forces to track, watch and warn him.”
A U.S. amphibious assault vehicle maneuvers past the Philippine navy frigate Ramon Alcaraz during the amphibious landing as part of the annual joint Philippine-U.S. military exercise at the Philippine Navy training camp beach in San Antonio, Zambales province, northwest of Manila, on May 9, 2018.
(TED ALJIBE/AFP via Getty Images)
UNITED STATES MARINES STORM THE BEACH NEAR THE DISPUTE REEF IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA JOINT MILITARY EXERCISES
The spokesman for the Southern Theater Command, Senior Air Force Colonel Tian Junli, claimed that the cruiser “seriously violated China’s sovereignty and security.”
The US Navy rejected China’s claims of “illegal behaviour” and said it was acting within its rights under international law and was conducting a freedom of navigation operation in the South China Sea, where it accused China to try to restrict “innocent passage”.
“The illegal and extensive maritime claims in the South China Sea pose a serious threat to the freedom of the seas, including freedoms of navigation and overflight, free trade, and unimpeded commerce,” the Navy said in a statement.
Sabina Shoal, also known as Escoda Shoal, Spratly Islands, West Philippine Sea.
(Images from Gallo/Orbital Horizon/Copernicus Sentinel Data 2021)
WARNING FROM US EMBASSY IN CHINA SIGNS LOCKDOWNS LIKELY TO INTENSIFY AMID PROTESTS
The US military argued that maintaining the freedom of the seas was crucial to ensuring stability, global security, and economic inclusion.
Ownership of the Spratly Islands is disputed with China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei, all claiming some or all of the islands and regional reefs.
The US Navy argued that international law dictates that “the ships of all states, including their warships, enjoy the right of innocent passage”, and the US does not need to seek permission from any nation to use the waterway.
This photo taken on October 16, 2019 shows US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets multi-role fighters and an EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan as it sails in the South China Sea on its way. to singapore
(CATHERINE LAI/AFP via Getty Images)
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“By engaging in an innocent step without giving prior notice or seeking permission from any of the claimants, the United States defied the illegal restrictions imposed by the People’s Republic of China, Taiwan, and Vietnam,” the statement continued, noting that US forces are operating in the area. daily.
“The United States is defending the right of all nations to fly, navigate and operate where international law allows, as the USS Chancellorsville did here,” the Navy said. “Nothing the PRC says will deter us.”
