US Navy will continue patrolling disputed South China Sea, top Navy official says, after Chinese destroyer came dangerously close to American Navy ship during ‘freedom of navigation’ sail-by near Chinese-occupied reef
The U. S. Navy will continue patrolling the disputed South China Sea, a top Navy official said Monday, after a Chinese destroyer came dangerously close to an American Navy ship during a « freedom of navigation » sail-by near a Chinese-occupied reef.
Admiral John Richardson, who heads U. S. naval operations, said in a news conference with Philippine military officials in Manila on Monday that such patrols highlight the U. S. position against « illegitimate maritime claims. »
« We will continue to progress this program of freedom of navigation operations, » Richardson said. « We do dozens of these operations around the world to indicate our position for… illegitimate claims, maritime claims. »
While Washington has no claims to the strategic waterway, it has declared that freedom of navigation and the peaceful resolution of the disputes are in the U. S. national interest. The U. S. has also questioned China’s expansive claims, bringing it into a collision course with Beijing as the countries’ ties deteriorate.
A Chinese destroyer came close to the USS Decatur in late September in an « unsafe and unprofessional maneuver » near Gaven Reef in the South China Sea, forcing it to maneuver to prevent a collision, according to the U.
