ASIA: 2 US warships test ‘freedom of navigation’ on WPS

The United States sailed two warships close to the disputed islands in the South China Sea on Monday, a move expected to draw Beiing’s ire.The guided-missile destroyers USS Spruance and USS Preble sailed within 12 nautical miles of the Spratly Islands as part of what the US Navy calls a “freedom of navigation operation.”In Manila, the United States has funded the Philippine Coast Guard’s Outboard Motor Center of Excellence, a new maritime training facility in Balagtas, Bulacan, intended to enhance the coast guard’s capacity to train its workforce and sustain its equipment.China Sea

US and Philippine officials inaugurated the P39-million new facility consisting of a classroom, a barracks, and an outboard motor maintenance lab during the unveiling ceremony on Monday.The US Navy’s operation was carried out “to challenge excessive maritime claims and preserve access to the waterways as governed by international law,” Commander Clay Doss, a spokesman for the US Navy’s 7th Fleet, told CNN.“All operations are designed in accordance with international law and demonstrate that the United States will fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows,” Doss said, adding “that is true in the South China Sea as in other places around the globe.”Monday’s operation was the second in the South China Sea reported by the US Navy this year. In January, the destroyer USS McCampbell sailedwithin 12 nautical miles of the Paracel Islands.Shortly after that operation, China accused the US of trespassing in its territorial waters―and said it had deployed missiles “capable of targeting medium and large ships.”“The US action violated the Chinese laws and international laws, infringed China’s sovereignty, damaged regional peace, security and order,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said at the time. “China will take necessary actions to protect state sovereignty.”

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In late September, the USS Decatur also sailed within 12 nautical miles of Gaven and Johnson reefs in the Spratly Islands as part of a similar freedom of navigation operation.During that operation, a Chinese destroyer came within 45 yards of the US warship, forcing it to maneuver to avoid a collision. The US labeled the Chinese warship’s actions unsafe and unprofessional, while Beijing said the US was threatening the safety and sovereignty of China.The US has accused Beijing of installing missiles and other military hardware on the disputed islands.

“There’s been sort of a steady increase,” Admiral John Richardson, the US Chief of Naval Operations, told reporters earlier this month when asked about China’s militarization of the area.“The weapons systems have been getting increasingly sophisticated so it’s something we’re watching very closely,” he said.“We’ve got big interests there so we’re going to remain there,” he added, noting that about a third of the world’s trade passes through those waters. With Rey E. Requejo /  posted February 12, 2019 at 01:25 am by Manila Standard