US Navy to Challenge Chinese Claims in South China Sea

Five other governments also claim the region in part or in total.

Asked about the report at a daily briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China has long made clear its position on the South China Sea, which Beijing claims virtually in its entirety, along with its islands, reefs and atolls.

A spokesman for the National Security Council deferred questions regarding the Navy’s plans to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, but drew attention to President Obama’s remarks before the United Nations General Assembly September 28, where he said the US has “an interest in upholding the basic principles of freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce, and in resolving disputes through worldwide law, not the law of force”.

In Beijing’s nine-dash claim, China’s maritime domain covers nearly the entire South China Sea and West Philippine Sea, including the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of smaller neighboring countries.

The move will likely raise tensions between the two nations amid disagreement over other issues, including cyber espionage and unfair trade practices.

In the report, Mr Obama had expressed significant concern over the activities China had carried out near the Spratlys during his press conference with Mr Xi last month and emphasised that the U.S. would keep sailing, flying and operating anywhere which worldwide law permits.

Australia’s Army Chief Lt. Gen. Angus Campbell said the South China Sea situation is “very complicated”, and dialogue should continue.

Plans to send a warship through the contested space in the vicinity of the Spratly Islands have been rumored since May, but three Pentagon officials who spoke to Navy Times on background to discuss future operations say Navy officials believe approval of the mission is imminent.

China has ramped up its maritime activities in the South China Sea over the past few years, engaging in naval exercises and building airstrips and military outposts as a showcase of its military might in the Pacific, the FT report said.

According to Carpio, the Philippines has not only historical basis for its claim to Scarborough Shoal, but also legal basis.

China claims “indisputable sovereignty” over 90 percent of the waters, where undersea gas deposits have been discovered in several areas.

Speaking in July, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet Adm. Scott Swift said Washington does not recognize any of the territorial claims and its position won’t change even if disputed areas are reinforced by construction work.

Beijing accuses Washington of meddling in the regional disputes and deliberately stirring up tensions in the region.