China warns US Navy after ship sails by Chinese-built island

[webfact]

China warns US Navy after ship sails by Chinese-built island
By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN and ROBERT BURNS

BEIJING (AP) — A U.S. Navy warship sailed past one of China's artificial islands in the South China Sea on Tuesday, in a challenge to Chinese sovereignty claims that drew an angry protest from Beijing, which said the move damaged U.S.-China relations and regional peace.

China's Foreign Ministry said authorities monitored and warned the USS Lassen as it entered what China claims as a 12-mile (21-kilometer) territorial limit around Subi Reef in the Spratly Islands archipelago, a group of reefs, islets, and atolls where the Philippines has competing claims.

"The actions of the U.S. warship have threatened China's sovereignty and security interests, jeopardized the safety of personnel and facilities on the reefs, and damaged regional peace and stability," the ministry said on its website.

"The Chinese side expresses its strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition," the statement said.

The sail-past fits a U.S. policy of pushing back against China's growing assertiveness in the South China Sea. U.S. ally the Philippines welcomed the move as a way of helping maintain "a balance of power."

Since 2013, China has accelerated the creation of new outposts by piling sand atop reefs and atolls then adding buildings, ports and airstrips big enough to handle bombers and fighter jets — activities seen as an attempt to change the territorial status quo by changing the geography.

Navy officials had said the sail-past was necessary to assert the U.S. position that China's manmade islands cannot be considered sovereign territory with the right to surrounding territorial waters.

International law permits military vessels the right of "innocent passage" in transiting other country's seas without notification. China's Foreign Ministry, though, labeled the ship's actions as illegal.

The U.S. says it doesn't take a position on sovereignty over the South China Sea but insists on freedom of navigation and overflight. About 30 percent of global trade passes through the South China Sea, which also has rich fishing grounds and a potential wealth of undersea mineral deposits.

China says it respects the right of navigation but has never specified the exact legal status of its maritime claims. China says virtually all of the South China Sea belongs to it, while Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam claim either parts or all of it.

State Department spokesman John Kirby said Tuesday the U.S. has a right to freedom of navigation in international waters, and such maneuvers "should not be construed as a threat by anybody." He said the U.S. wants relations with China to continue to deepen.

"The U.S.-China relationship is vitally important and one that we want to see continue to improve and to grow for the benefit of both our countries, not to mention the region," Kirby told reporters in Washington.

Beijing's response closely mirrored its actions in May when a navy dispatcher warned off a U.S. Navy P8-A Poseidon surveillance aircraft as it flew over Fiery Cross Reef, where China has conducted extensive reclamation work.

A Defense Department official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the Lassen's movements, said the patrol was completed without incident. A Pentagon spokesman, Navy Cmdr. Bill Urban, declined to comment.

Speaking to foreign correspondents in Manila, Philippine President Benigno Aquino III said he supported the U.S. naval maneuvers as an assertion of freedom of navigation and as a means to balance power in the region.

"I think expressing support for established norms of international behavior should not be a negative for a country," he said. "I think everybody would welcome a balance of power anywhere in the world."

Without identifying China by name, he said "one regional power" has been making "controversial pronouncements" that must not be left unchallenged.

The Obama administration has long said it will exercise a right to freedom of navigation in any international waters.

"Make no mistake, the United States will fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows, as we do around the world, and the South China Sea is not and will not be an exception," Defense Secretary Ash Carter said earlier this month.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry statement said China adhered to international law regarding freedom of navigation and flight, but "resolutely opposes the damaging of China's sovereignty and security interests in the name of free navigation and flight."

"China will firmly deal with provocations from other countries," the statement said, adding that China would continue to monitor the air and sea and take further action when necessary.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kong said such actions by the U.S. might end up spurring further advances in Chinas defense capabilities.

"If any country wishes to disrupt or impede China's reasonable, justifiable and lawful activities on our own territories by playing some little tricks, I would advise these countries to cast off this fantasy," Lu said.

The South China Sea has become an increasingly sore point in relations with the United States, even as President Barack Obama and China's President Xi Jinping have sought to deepen cooperation in other areas.

Despite those tensions, exchanges between the two militaries have continued to expand, with a U.S. Navy delegation paying visits last week to China's sole aircraft carrier and a submarine warfare academy.
___

Associated Press reporter Oliver Teves contributed to this report from Manila, Philippines, and Matthew Pennington from Washington, D.C. Burns reported from Washington, D.C.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-10-28

[daoyai]

Why not a ship convoy?, US, P.I. VN, Malay, Taiwan... send a unified message.

Edited October 28, 2015 by daoyai

[MobileContent]

Why not a ship convoy?, US, P.I. VN, Malay, Taiwan... send a unified message.

Taiwan backs China on this and Malaysia and Vietnam have no interest in upsetting the Chinese. Its all about the US and the Philippines. The US has really nothing to do in those waters but my guess the Chinese will show up soon 12 miles away from US waters.

[craigt3365]

Why not a ship convoy?, US, P.I. VN, Malay, Taiwan... send a unified message.

Taiwan backs China on this and Malaysia and Vietnam have no interest in upsetting the Chinese. Its all about the US and the Philippines. The US has really nothing to do in those waters but my guess the Chinese will show up soon 12 miles away from US waters.

Not true. Every nation with a territorial claim are supporting the actions of the US. The UN is suppose to rule on this soon. Look at a map. Many other countries are closer to these islands. China is creating an environmental disaster. Plus, violating long standing international maritime law.

[oneday]

"...which said the move damaged U.S.-China relations and regional peace..."

Let's reverse that.

China's move to try and make parts of the SCS sovereign territory is causing great damage to relations and peace with many countries in the region.

[shirtless]

They better do something other wise China will take it all , bit by bit of course.

[Vandadavid]

China have recently grown a set of balls. On those skinny legs.

They should first worry about there own people in that place. Child abduction every few minutes and they do nothing.

Reason is they are not well trained in tactical operations. And there claims to new world waters is just that a claim

They are being very stupid and will find themselves in deep waters. They did a business deal with the UK and think they are beyond contest. They are gravely wrong

[wwest5829]

Why not a ship convoy?, US, P.I. VN, Malay, Taiwan... send a unified message.

Taiwan backs China on this and Malaysia and Vietnam have no interest in upsetting the Chinese. Its all about the US and the Philippines. The US has really nothing to do in those waters but my guess the Chinese will show up soon 12 miles away from US waters.

If that is already the international law, they have been able to do this at any time. However, China is unilaterally pushing its claims to 80-90% of the South China Sea not in accord with international law.

[DNPBC0]

Freedom of navigation is defined under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Ironically, the USA has never agreed to ratify this international treaty with attempts to do so blocked by Republican members of the Senate.

[wwest5829]

Why not a ship convoy?, US, P.I. VN, Malay, Taiwan... send a unified message.

Excellent. If 30% of world trade passes through the South China Sea carriers of all nations cuducting the trade should challenge this unilateral China action.

[FangFerang]

As always, it's all about resources...no one gives a flying pig about sovereignty and history and status....

[smedly]

Why not a ship convoy?, US, P.I. VN, Malay, Taiwan... send a unified message.

Taiwan backs China on this and Malaysia and Vietnam have no interest in upsetting the Chinese. Its all about the US and the Philippines. The US has really nothing to do in those waters but my guess the Chinese will show up soon 12 miles away from US waters.

Not true. Every nation with a territorial claim are supporting the actions of the US. The UN is suppose to rule on this soon. Look at a map. Many other countries are closer to these islands. China is creating an environmental disaster. Plus, violating long standing international maritime law.

If that ship had been from the Philippines China would have reacted very differently, it is absurd that China is trying to claim these waters, some are so close that you'd need to take your passport to swim 100m off a beach, it is ridiculous, China is being a bully but not with everyone lol

The UN needs to expediate their ruling and put an end to this nonsense

[Briggsy]

China will push North Korea's buttons (not difficult) to create a distraction whilst furiously consolidating the structures they have already placed on the reefs.

The U.S. has conducted freedom of navigation patrols through waters claimed by Vietnam, Singapore, Taiwan, Philippines, Indonesia just to show it is not aimed against Chinese expansion. Everybody knows it is aimed against Chinese expansion.

[smacks41]

Why not a ship convoy?, US, P.I. VN, Malay, Taiwan... send a unified message.

Taiwan backs China on this and Malaysia and Vietnam have no interest in upsetting the Chinese. Its all about the US and the Philippines. The US has really nothing to do in those waters but my guess the Chinese will show up soon 12 miles away from US waters.

I don't know where you come up with "the US has really nothing to do in those waters?" What planet you been living on?

Edited October 28, 2015 by smacks41

[BarnicaleBob]

Looking at the bigger picture, China still wants to take control of Taiwan and some in the Taiwanese government feels that in or around 2020 China will stage an invasion. The long term prospects are that China is postponing their move on Taiwan until China has a sufficiently strong navy and better control of the South China Sea to counter U.S. intervention when they make their move on Taiwan. Yes, there is a treaty between Taiwan and the U.S. stating that if China attacks the U.S. will join the fight to defend Taiwan.

By gaining control of the South China Sea first, China will have a strategic military advantage when they make their move on Taiwan. So, obtaining control of the South China Sea is only step one in long term plan to take over Taiwan. As said above, Taiwan's defense department feels the Chinese will be ready to stage the invasion of Taiwan sometime around 2020.

Maintaining the free right of passage in the South China sea with a strong U.S. navy presence and denying China total control of the sea, may prevent a war between China and Taiwan which the U.S. would have no choice because of treaty agreements to get involved in.

This all boils down to having a small altercation in the South China Sea or a major war in the future.

Edited October 28, 2015 by BarnicaleBob

[Usernames]

I wonder what China's new best friend, David Cameron, thinks about this? Whose side you on, now, boy?

[Enoon]

I wonder what China's new best friend, David Cameron, thinks about this? Whose side you on, now, boy?

His own side. (That's him and his oligarch/plutocrat mates.)

[Dustdevil]

Why not a ship convoy?, US, P.I. VN, Malay, Taiwan... send a unified message.

Forget the Malaysians...they might run amok or aground.

[Benmart]

Chinese strategy is a repeat of history. Military buildup, economic monopolies,false gestures of peace, followed by expansionist takeover of weaker neighbors.

[Publicus]

If that ship had been from the Philippines China would have reacted very differently, it is absurd that China is trying to claim these waters, some are so close that you'd need to take your passport to swim 100m off a beach, it is ridiculous, China is being a bully but not with everyone lol

The UN needs to expediate their ruling and put an end to this nonsense

The CCP Dictators in Beijing early last year stated absolutely they do not recognise the UN High Tribunal on the International Law of the Sea that will issue a judgement on the Philippine claim, probably sometime next year.

The CCP Dictators say it is their sovereign territory period and that is all there is to it. No one else can say otherwise or do anything contrary to the pronouncement and declaration by the CCP. Which is why the USNavy has established a schedule of sailing within the 12 mile area wrongly claimed by the Dictators in Beijing. If no one actively challenges the Boyz' territorial and jurisdictional 12 mile claims, they are very likely in time to become de facto reality.

CCP signed the ICLOS but do not observe it unless they like what it does or can do. The US Senate has never confirmed the ICLOS signed by the Executive Branch but US presidents have observed it pretty closely and from the outset. In fact the Boston-Washington ILOS specialist legal beagle law firm Hale & Dorr are representing the Phils before the Tribunal.

The CCP Dictators were actually pretty straight forward when they signed the ICLOS because they attached their written statement that anything they find they don't like about it means they don't have to honor the treaty or to respect it, or to comply. This is to date the Dictators' most high profile instance of the International Law of the CCP Dictators of Beijing Over Ruling All And Any Laws We Do Not Like or Approve Of And If Anyone Does Not LIke It They Can Try To Get Bigger And More Bossy Than We Are In China Ha Ha Ha.

[Thaidream]

The Chinese present a clear and present danger to the World. They need to be contained. They don't dare a real confrontation with the Us because they would lose. Their goal is to control sea lanes. acquire territory and control economies for the natural resources they need such as food, oil and water. Any Nation that co-operates with them in this endevour is a fool. Both American and British business being greedy continue to offshore their industry to China causing under employment to their own people but collecting huge profits. Unfortunately neither the US Government or British Government have any disengagement strategy.The best thing consumers can do is refuse to buy Chinese made goods and that includes the Apple I-Phone.

[Publicus]

Fortunately for the good guyz the CCP are astoundingly stupid.

By Deng Xiaoping's dictum of the mid-1990s they were supposed to lay low until the CCP had the economic muscle and military might to spring itself on the world by stealth, surprise, shock.

Instead the old line CCP Boyz who continue to worship Mao drove hard to push around hated and detested Japan in the East Sea, which began starting in 2009 at the zenith of the CCP's fantasy boom and artificial growth. Then the hard-liners began to push for action ahead of time to transmogrify the SCS into a CCP China lake. Concerning the latter, the Boyz had thought they could pour money and projects in to Asean which then would roll over to concede the SCS to Beijing.

None of it has gone to plan, to include the CCP economy which is in a steady march to its minus default position. And the Boyz have instead unified if not united almost the entire region against them, from Japan through most of Asean to India and Australia.

Turns out so far that the CCP Boyz have the same thing in common as with Vladimir Putin, in that neither have played chess against anyone they couldn't put in jail.

[SheungWan]

Why not a ship convoy?, US, P.I. VN, Malay, Taiwan... send a unified message.

Taiwan backs China on this and Malaysia and Vietnam have no interest in upsetting the Chinese. Its all about the US and the Philippines. The US has really nothing to do in those waters but my guess the Chinese will show up soon 12 miles away from US waters.

Taiwan does not back Mainland China. Vietnam is in dispute with Mainland China. Any other stories for us to digest?

[h90]

Why not a ship convoy?, US, P.I. VN, Malay, Taiwan... send a unified message.

Taiwan backs China on this and Malaysia and Vietnam have no interest in upsetting the Chinese. Its all about the US and the Philippines. The US has really nothing to do in those waters but my guess the Chinese will show up soon 12 miles away from US waters.

Not true. Every nation with a territorial claim are supporting the actions of the US. The UN is suppose to rule on this soon. Look at a map. Many other countries are closer to these islands. China is creating an environmental disaster. Plus, violating long standing international maritime law.

I think China had these islands for a long time and no one every disputed it until oil was found....(Just one story I read.....I didn't research if it is true).

[TimmyT]

I hope soon Asian countries will have enough power to kick US out of Asia

civilized humanity should unite to keep international brawler inside it's geographical borders

[Thaidream]

The US will never be kicked out because the rest of Asia knows exactly what China is and wants and they will unite behind the US. the US has many faults and is an imperialistic power but I would rather align with the US than China anytime. The Chinese have a history that is much more brutal that the US. At least when the Us conquers it is paternalistic and generous to a fault.

[TimmyT]

The US will never be kicked out because the rest of Asia knows exactly what China is and wants and they will unite behind the US. the US has many faults and is an imperialistic power but I would rather align with the US than China anytime. The Chinese have a history that is much more brutal that the US. At least when the Us conquers it is paternalistic and generous to a fault.

generous? ahaha.. a joke of the day!

tell this to Latin America banana republics which were sucked dry by United Fruit and other US monopolies.

tell this to Iraqis, Afghans, and Libyans who can't believe in extraordinary generosity of their new masters...

Edited October 28, 2015 by TimmyT

[hawker9000]

Freedom of navigation is defined under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Ironically, the USA has never agreed to ratify this international treaty with attempts to do so blocked by Republican members of the Senate.

Freedom of navigation, including the right of peaceful transit, are accepted principles of maritime precedent and international law going back centuries, long before the UN ever even existed. This is just an attempt to inject a personal agenda. Lame.

[Thaidream]

Let me advise you of the truth as someone who has worked in countries around the World both in the profit and non profit realm. I am the first to criticize the US when it is justified- in this I am separating the United States military occupation of a country from what private business does. The Us Military are some of the most professional people I have ever met. They go about their business and are generous to a point when allowed. I have witnessed pallets of US dollars normally a Billion at one time being off loaded in both Iraq and Kabul. These are monies that went to keep the government and industry afloat in these countries and made life better for the average citizen. The government may have had an agenda behind this but not the military.As a US citizen I was and still am opposed to the Iraq and Afghan wars and would have never intervened. I would have used the taxpayers money to help America care for its own citizens.

. The generosity of the American people is legendary from reconstruction funds during the American Civil War all the way to the Marshall Plan after WWII to the reconstruction of Japan- a former enemy.In addition, the United States Government gave $5 Billion to African Nations to fight HIV/AIDS. I have also watched the United State provide disaster relief all over the World. Other countries also do and they should also be commended for their generosity.

Now you contrast this with China- whose sole mission is to gain hegemony over all of Asia and never provides anything out of generosity. There is always a motive such as control of sea lanes, gathering land for food, oil or water. It has a huge population and the Communist Party wants total control. Don't think the rest of Asia is fooled by this - because they are not. You may be as you post is naive and sounds as if you have little experience overseas and a lack of historical perspective.. I guarantee you any threat to Asia by the Chinese would be met with overwhelming American intervention and any attack on America by the Chinese would bring the American people together like no other . Unless you are American you will never understand the will of the American people to win over an aggressor.

Now, in regards to how American business has operated over the past 40 years- they are imperialistic, ruthless and without ethics or morals. Their only interest is greed and to see how much they can make off the backs of cheap labor, including American cheap labor..They support dictators or anyone else who will do their bidding. And yes, sometimes the American government supports what they do. America has huge problems that must be resolved withing the next 20 years or there will be huge issues that will engulf it and the World in economic turmoil. I could name them all but I doubt you would understand them as your hatred of America obscures the reality.

[Scott]

An off-topic, baiting post and reply have been removed.

Edit: Make that an additional post.