A U.S. warship passed by a contested island in the South China Sea “challenging excessive maritime claims that restrict the rights and freedoms of the United States and others”, a U.S. defense official has told Anadolu Agency.
“This operation challenged attempts by the three claimants, China, Taiwan and Vietnam, to restrict navigation rights and freedoms around the features they claim by policies that require prior permission or notification of transit within territorial seas,” according to Mark Wright, a Pentagon spokesman.
According to Wright, Saturday’s operation took place in the vicinity of Triton Island in the Paracel Islands, and the USS Curtis Wilbur, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer transited “in innocent passage within 12 nautical miles of Triton Island”.
He noted that no claimants were notified prior to the transit.
Wright also said that the operation was not about territorial claims to land features in the area.
“This operation demonstrates, as President [Barack] Obama and Secretary [of Defense Ash] Carter have stated, the United States will fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows. That is true in the South China Sea, as in other places around the globe.”
The U.S. conducted a similar operation in October. China said it warned that warship, the USS Lassen, as it came close to reefs claimed by China in contested waters.
The area is subject to a series of territorial disputes between Asian nations and near the Spratly Islands, which Chinese calls the Nansha islands, where China has built an artificial island with air strips.
US Warship Passes Contested İsland İn South China Sea
Pentagon says operation was a part of U.S. challenging 'excessive' maritime claims
