China said on Tuesday it opposed action by other countries under the pretext of freedom of navigation that undermined its sovereignty, after a U. S. aircraft carrier strike group began patrols in the contested South China Sea. The U. S. navy said the strike…
BEIJING (Reuters) – China said on Tuesday it opposed action by other countries under the pretext of freedom of navigation that undermined its sovereignty, after a U. S. aircraft carrier strike group began patrols in the contested South China Sea.
The U. S. navy said the strike group, including the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier the USS Carl Vinson, began « routine operations » in the South China Sea on Saturday amid growing tension with China over control of the disputed waterway.
« China always respects the freedom of navigation and overflight all countries enjoy under international law, » Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a daily news briefing.
« But we are consistently opposed to relevant countries threatening and damaging the sovereignty and security of littoral countries under the flag of freedom of navigation and overflight, » Geng said in China’s first official comment on the latest U. S. patrol since it began.
