KUALA LUMPUR • Recent US naval accidents in the Asia-Pacific region will not interrupt freedom of navigation operations in the disputed South China Sea, the US Pacific Air Forces commander said yesterday..
KUALA LUMPUR • Recent US naval accidents in the Asia-Pacific region will not interrupt freedom of navigation operations in the disputed South China Sea, the US Pacific Air Forces commander said yesterday.
USS John S. McCain collided with a merchant vessel in Singapore waters this week, the fourth major accident involving the US Pacific fleet this year. The guided-missile destroyer had sailed within 12 nautical miles of an artificial island built by China in the South China Sea earlier this month, in the latest freedom of navigation operation to counter what the United States sees as China’s efforts to control the waters.
General Terrence J. O’Shaughnessy, who is visiting Malaysia and other countries in the region this week, said the collision of the USS John S. McCain should not overshadow the defence capability the US brings to the region.
« There is no setback to the operations following these incidents, » he said. « We stand firm that we are going to sail and fly anywhere where international rules allow.
