China strongly condemns US for sending warship near island

An incursion by a USA warship in Chinese territorial waters on Saturday is the latest attempt by Washington to return tension to the South China Sea and encourage more regional stakeholders to challenge China, according to observers.

China strongly condemned the United States after an American warship deliberately sailed near one of the Beijing-controlled islands in the hotly contested South China Sea to exercise freedom of navigation and challenge Beijing’s vast sea claims.

China’s Defense Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun said that “unprofessional and irresponsible” US action ‘severely violated Chinese law, sabotaged the peace and security.

“The US warship, in violation of relevant Chinese laws, entered China’s territorial waters without authorization”.

The Curtis Wilbur’s passage near Triton Island marks the first freedom of navigation patrol in the South China Sea since the U.S. Navy sailed the USS Lassen within 12 nautical miles of Subi Reef in the Spratly Islands, marking 95 days between the two operations. USA officials said that such ship movements would be regular in the future.

At issue is whether China, or other claimants to the islands, which also include The Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei, can choke off global shipping by demanding advanced notice of passing vessels in a part of the ocean that sees more than $5 trillion worth of trade pass through it every year.

He added that despite proposing measures to ensure navigation safety of ships and aircraft of all parties in the area, the US has “repeatedly sent vessels and planes into China’ s territorial sea and air space regardless of China’s opposition”. Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou ignored a rebuke from the USA and visited an island in the contested area earlier this week, reiterating claims to the disputed waterway.

“Whatever provocative action the USA takes, the Chinese military will take all necessary measures to resolutely protect the nation’s sovereignty and security”. According to Pentagon spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis, this was an act of provocation against China, which is trying to limit freedom of navigation.

Davis continued to say that the navy sought to challenge policies that require prior permission or notification of transit within territorial seas and that the US doesn’t take sides in the numerous territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

‘The excessive claims regarding Triton Island are inconsistent with global law as reflected in the Law of the Sea Convention’. Triton Island is not among the features where China has built artificial islands and constructed military and civilian features.

“The US has extended its provocative naval activities in the South China Sea to the Xisha (Paracel) Islands which are much closer to the Chinese mainland than the Nansha (Spratley) Islands, which were previously targeted by US navy actions”. Harris also said that in his opinion “those islands do not belong to China”.