The passing of a US Navy warship near the islands that China claims sovereignty over in the South China Sea has increased the tension in the region.
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Southern Front Command said in a statement that the US navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Milius “entered territorial waters without authorization” near the Mischief Reef in the Spartly Islands, which the Chinese refer to as “Nansha”.
“China has undisputed sovereignty over the islands in the South China Sea and the waters nearby,” the statement said. Military units in the region will maintain high vigilance and will resolutely defend sovereignty, security, peace and stability in the South China Sea.” statements were included.
OPERATION FREE OF NAVIGATION
The US 7th Fleet in the Pacific also said in a statement that the passage of the ship was a “freedom of navigation operation” in accordance with international law.
It was stated in the statement that the ship sailed 12 miles from the disputed reef, which is the internationally accepted distance for territorial waters, and that the reef, which is at low wave altitude in its natural state, cannot be considered territorial waters according to international law.
In the statement, it was stated that the USA opposes the demands for sovereignty over the seas, no matter which country they come from, and said, “The international community has a responsibility to ensure freedom of navigation in the seas, this is necessary for the protection of global security, stability and prosperity.” evaluation was made.
It was noteworthy that the activity of the US warship in the region coincided with the military exercise launched by the Chinese army around the island after the Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen’s visit to the USA.
Taiwan, which is in a sovereignty conflict with China, is located in the north of the South China Sea.
The South China Sea has been the subject of sovereignty disputes since riparian countries gained their independence after the Second World War.
China claims sovereignty over 80 percent of the South China Sea, with the map it first published in 1947. Coastal neighboring countries such as the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, and Malaysia also claim the region.
The USA, as well as the countries in the region, opposes China’s construction of military bases on the disputed islands in the region and keeping its civilian fleets for a long time.
It is observed that the USA has recently increased its military patrol and navigation activities, which it calls “Freedom of Navigation Operations” (FONP), against the increasing presence of China in the region.