Qatar- US Warship Exercise Challenges South China Sea Isle Claimants

1/31/2016 7:48:51 AM

(MENAFN- Qatar News Agency) Shanghai January 31 (QNA) - A US Navy warship sailed around 12 nautical miles close to an island claimed by China and two other states in the South China Sea according to reports.
The Pentagon on Saturday said the move "was to counter efforts to limit freedom of navigation." Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis said no ships from China's military were in the vicinity of the guided-missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur when it passed near Triton Island in the Paracel Islands.
"This operation challenged attempts by the three claimants - China Taiwan and Vietnam - to restrict navigation rights and freedoms" Davis said reflecting the US position that the crucial sea lane should be treated as international waters.
China claims most of the South China Sea through which more than $5 trillion of world trade is shipped every year. Vietnam Malaysia Brunei the Philippines and Taiwan have rival claims.
China condemned the US action as provocative.
China's foreign ministry said "The American warship has violated relevant Chinese laws by entering Chinese territorial waters without prior permission and the Chinese side has taken relevant measures including monitoring and admonishments." The US Navy conducted a similar exercise in October in which the guided-missile destroyer Lassen sailed close to one of China's man-made islands also drawing a rebuke from Beijing. (QNA)

Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.