US Navy sends ship near disputed island

For many years, the USA side has proposed measures to ensure navigation safety of ships and aircraft of all parties, but it repeatedly sent vessels and planes into China’ s territorial sea and air space regardless of China’s opposition, leading to close encounters of navy and air force troops of the two countries, Yang said.

Navy Capt. Jeff Davis said the ship, the USS Curtis Wilbur, passed within 12 nautical miles of Triton Island, one of a series of coral islands and reefs known as the Paracel Islands, whose ownership is disputed by China, Taiwan and Vietnam.

The ministry has repeatedly asserted that from the perspectives of history, geography and global law, the Spratlys, Paracels and Pratas Islands and the Macclesfield Bank, as well as their surrounding waters, are an inherent part of ROC territory.

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President Barack Obama called on China in November to halt construction on some of the 3,000 acres of newly-created islands in the disputed waters that are now being militarized with airfields, deep water ports, and other military features.

Through these concrete actions, Ma said the ROC aims to demonstrate to the global community that the country is committed to fulfilling its worldwide obligations, so as to turn the South China Sea into one of peace and cooperation. None of the countries were informed ahead of time, and there were no foreign military vessels in the area.

The U.S. conducted similar operations last October in the Spratly islands, near the Philipines, Anthony says.

China claims virtually all of the South China Sea, while the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have partial claims.

“The PRC which has occupied the Xisha Islands since the 1970s thus serves as the representative of the Chinese nation, irrespective of which regime is considered”.

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

“I believe the Lassen did challenge some of China’s claims”, Harris said during a presentation at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank.

“China has established unlawful strait baselines around all the islands – which is illegal”, he said.

Pentagon spokesman Davis said the US destroyer was conducting a routine “freedom-of-navigation operation in the South China Sea”. As the only recognized government, China can use the work done by Taiwan on Itu Aba to justify its own activities, including some of its artificial island building.

The latest United States operation in the South China Sea sought to challenge policies that require prior permission or notification of transit within territorial seas.

In October past year, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter, testifying before a Senate panel, said the missions would continue.

Wright also said that the operation was not about territorial claims to land features in the area.