Why Did The US Send A Ship To The South China Sea?

The goal of the operation was to send a message to China, Taiwan and Vietnam that their attempts to restrict navigational rights by requiring other countries to obtain permission before entering the waters around the island were “inconsistent” with global law, Wright said. The implication that the United States is adopting an even-handed approach to territorial claims in the South China Sea is absurd.

In a previous “freedom of navigation” operation, the U.S. sailed a destroyer close to the disputed Spratly Islands a year ago, an incident that also sparked a protest from China.

The program includes both consultations and representation by USA diplomats and operational activities by U.S. military forces.

This aerial view of the city of Sansha on an island in the disputed Paracel chain. “The long-term impact of this [freedom of navigation operation] will be measured by follow-on challenges to the PRC’s claims from all nations in the region”.

Moreover, unlike Subi Reef which was originally submerged at high tide, Triton is an island and formally generates a 12-nautical-mile territorial limit under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen, in the South Cina Sea.

“The U.S. naval ship violated Chinese law to enter China’s territorial waters”.

China firmly upholds her sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea.

He said the delay allowed China to continue to pursue its territorial ambitions in the region.

China seized the unpopulated Triton Island, an area of 1.2 square kilometers (0.46 sq. miles), from former South Vietnam in 1974.

China is building airstrips on three islands in the Spratlys that the Pentagon has said could be used to station warplanes capable of controlling the entire airspace over the sea.

China denies the claims, saying the facilities are mainly for civilian and defensive purposes.

This month, the chairman of the US Senate Armed Services Committee criticized President Barack Obama for delaying further freedom of navigation patrols.

Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Hai Binh said that his country respects “innocent passage” of ships through territorial waters in line with global law.

Another commentary said the U.S. was “accustomed to hegemony and power politics” and China was a “victim” in the dispute.

The U.S. conducted a similar operation in October.

The US says it wants the crucial sea lane to be treated as global waters.

U.S. Navy destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur on Saturday sailed within 12 nautical miles of Triton Island.

China condemned the United States action as provocative.

Ironically, Xinhua said that Washington has unreasonably pointed its fingers at China, accusing Beijing of posing a threat to the “freedom of navigation” in the South China Sea and taking measures of “challenging the worldwide order”.

Significantly, Australian Defence Minister Marise Payne immediately backed the USS Curtis Wilbur’s intrusion into Chinese-claimed waters.

Yang said the move was unprofessional and irresponsible, and may cause extremely unsafe consequences, Xinhua reported.