US warship sails near disputed island in South China Sea

A Pentagon spokesperson confirmed the operation that is meant to challenge excessive maritime claims by China, Taiwan and Vietnam over the region.

The U.S. Navy conducted a similar operation in October, when the USS Lassen navigated within 12 nautical miles of Subi Reef, one of seven features in the disputed Spratly archipelago in the South China Sea.

The US declared it had not notified the claimants before the assignment but this was “consistent with our regular procedure and global law”.

China says virtually the entire South China Sea and its islands, reefs and atolls is its sovereign territory, although five other regional governments have overlapping claims.

ROC President Ma Ying-jeou completed a one-day trip to Taiping Island (Itu Aba) Jan. 28 in the South China Sea, wishing stationed personnel glad tidings for the Lunar New Year holiday and reaffirming the nation’s sovereignty over the island.

A U.S. Navy warship sailed through South China Sea waters claimed by China Saturday in a “freedom of navigation” exercise, which China denounced as “grave misconduct”.

“The American warship has violated relevant Chinese laws by entering Chinese territorial waters without prior permission”.

“China has established unlawful strait baselines around all the islands – which is illegal”, he said. “That is true in the South China Sea, as in other places around the globe”, said Navy Commander Bill Urban, according to CNN.

After arriving at the island, Ma gave a speech in which he proposed a roadmap in line with the South China Sea peace initiative he announced in May, focused on reducing tension, increasing dialogue and upholding the freedom of navigation and flight.

U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Wednesday that the United States was disappointed by Ma’s trip, saying it could exacerbate tensions, and renewed a call for dialogue between parties to the dispute.

“The US is trying to test the bottom line of China in the South China Sea issue”, Li said.

This month, US Senate Committee on Armed Services chairman John McCain was critical of Obama for delaying further freedom of navigation patrols.

Ma had invited along his successor, President-elect Tsai Ing-wen of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party, but she declined the offer, apparently to clarify the difference between her and Ma’s unpopular China-friendly Nationalist Party administration. The Defense Department said the USS Curtis Wilbur made an “innocent passage” that excludes any military activities.

A Pentagon spokesman said no Chinese military ships were in the vicinity when the warship passed near the island.

“Such actions are technically very unprofessional, they are irresponsible to the safety of servicemen of both sides, and are extremely risky in regard to (potential) outcomes”, Yang said, according to state-run Chinese media reports.