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Destroyer USS John S. McCain on patrol in the South China Sea in 2017 – Photo: AP
“On December 22, the destroyer USS John S. McCain of the United States Navy affirmed freedom and maritime rights in the Spratly Islands, in accordance with international law” – Thai Fleet statement The American Binh Duong declared .
This statement does not mention the specific location of the USS John S. McCain destroyer operating, such as moving near artificial islands that China illegally built in Vietnam’s Spratly Islands.
Meanwhile, stating on December 22, Mr. Tian Jun Li, spokesman for the Southern War Zone (one of the 5 battle zones of the Chinese Army), said that the destroyer John S. McCain was approached the Spratly and it worked “without Chinese permission”.
Tian said the PLA naval and air forces in the South China War Zone carried out “monitoring the American destroyers in the process, alerting them and driving them away.”
He said the US move seriously violated China’s so-called “sovereignty and security”, undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea. In recent years, China has illegally built artificial islands in the Spratlys of Vietnam despite international law and opposition from other countries.
However, the statement by the United States Pacific Fleet emphasized: “Illegal maritime claims in the South China Sea pose a serious threat to freedom of navigation, including freedom of navigation and flight, free trade, commerce. no obstacles and economic opportunities for the coastal states of the South China Sea. “
The operation comes after the United States warned in a document published last week that the country would be “more assertive” when dealing with China. The document outlines the goals for the U.S. Navy, Marines and Coast Guard in 2021.
The South China Sea Strategic Situation Research Initiative (SCSPI) of Peking University (China) said the last operation of the destroyer USS John S. McCain was the ninth patrol this year, during a warship had traveled within 12 nautical miles around the illegally occupied Beijing entities in the South China Sea.
These activities also reached five-year highs. According to the newspaper South China morning postRecently, the United States has sent ships to the area more frequently for activities that Washington says are free navigational patrols.
