US warship sails close to disputed Chinese reef
US warship sails close to disputed Chinese reef: According to unnamed sources which were cited by the US media, the USS warship Dewey passed within 12 nautical miles of Mischief Reef. According to China said the US vessel had entered its waters “without permission” and its navy had warned it to leave.
US insist that it can conduct operations in any international waters. US says that it does not take sides in territorial disputes, however the US has sent military ships and planes near disputed islands in the past. The US has called such efforts “freedom of navigation” operations which were initiated to ensure access to key shipping and air routes.
The US has also repeatedly criticised what it has claimed as Beijing’s efforts to limit the freedom of navigation in the strategic waters.
China on the other hand has put forward claims to almost all of the South China Sea, which including reefs and islands which are claimed by other nations.
Chinese Foreign ministries spokesman Lu Kang has condemned the US move. Mr Kang while talking to the press said: “The act damaged China’s sovereignty and security interests, and could have easily led to an air or sea accident, [China] resolutely opposes any country sailing or flying freely that could pose damage to China’s sovereignty and security interests.” At present, through the joint efforts of China and Asean countries, the South China Sea situation has cooled down. The Foreign Ministries spokesperson further added “The acts of the United States have seriously disrupted the process of dialogue and consultation.”
China has caused alarm in the region by building up South China Sea reefs and islets into artificial islands and installing some military positions.
Both China and the US have accused each other of what they claim “militarising” the South China Sea and there are concerns that the area is becoming a flashpoint with what are being considered potentially serious global consequences.
China’s claim to an area had been rejected by an international tribunal after a case was brought by the Philippines.
The statement at the time given by The Permanent Court of Arbitration had said that there was no evidence that China had historically exercised exclusive control over the waters or resources within its “nine-dash line.”
At the time, China had rejected the ruling saying that it was “ill-founded” and China will not be bound by it.
The latest event will have deep impacts in President Donald Trump’s bid to get China’s cooperation to deal with North Korea on its nuclear ambitions. Earlier in the month of May, Chinese fighter jets had intercepted a US aircraft which, according as per the US military officials, had been on a mission to detect radiation in international airspace.
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