The U.S. Navy conducted its first freedom of navigation operations (FONOPS) islands claimed by China in the South China Sea since the start of the Trump Administration, according to a multiple news reports Thursday.
The USS Dewey (DDG-105), and Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, reportedly sailed within 12 miles of Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands within the South China Sea on Wednesday. China claims much of the South China Sea, disagreeing with other Southeast Asian countries on maritime borders and a ruling against China from the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague, Netherlands based on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
China has not only claimed almost the entire sea, but has been constructing islands on reefs and building military installations.
Pentagon spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis obliquely commented on the activities by saying ““We operate in the Asia-Pacific region on a daily basis, including in the South China Sea. We operate in accordance with international law. We fly, sail, and operate wherever international law allows.”
A May 2 New York Times report noted earlier FONOPS requests in the first months of the new administration for the South China Sea were denied.
According to a Reuters report, the Dewey conducted a “man overboard” exercise within 12 miles of Mischief Reef. Previous FONOPS in the Spratly Islands involved innocent passage, where a warship usually recognizes territorial sea by crossing it quickly without stopping.
““The ship’s actions demonstrated that Mischief Reef is not entitled to its own territorial sea regardless of whether an artificial island has been built on top of it,” an official told Reuters.
The Chinese Defense Ministry confirmed the operation and objected to the activities.
“On May 25th, the missile destroyer USS Dewey entered the adjacent waters of the relevant islands and reefs of the Nansha Islands without permission. And the missile frigates CNS Liuzhou and Luzhou identified and verified the American ship, warned and dispelled it,” Col. Ren Guoqiang, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense told reporters at a Thursday press conference.
He reiterated the government’s stance that China has ‘indisputable sovereignty” over the islands and their adjacent waters.
“The Chinese military strongly opposes the US behavior of showing force and boosting regional militarization, which is highly likely to trigger sea and air accidents. The Chinese military has lodged solemn representations to the US side.”
Ren urged the U.S. to “correct its mistake” and that “the misconduct of the US military will only motivate the Chinese military to strengthen its capabilities and to defend its national sovereignty and security in a more resolute manner.”