Washington, July 2 (TNS): A US Navy destroyer on Sunday sailed within 12 miles of a disputed island in the South China Sea that is claimed by China, US media quoting military official reported on Sunday.
The US Navy conducted a “freedom of navigation exercise” around Triton Island in the Paracel archipelago, which is claimed by China, Vietnam and Taiwan.
As part of the exercise, the guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem came within 12 miles of Triton, sailing into what China claims to be its territorial waters. The US does not recognize Beijing’s claim of sovereignty over the islands, which it has occupied and on which it has been building fortifications.
The Pentagon declined to comment on the exercise.
“Beijing has undertaken substantial upgrades of its military infrastructure in the Paracels,” according to the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative.
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The initiative also says China has recently expanded its facilities on Triton Island to include the construction of a helipad.
The top US commander in the Pacific, Adm. Harry Harris, told an audience in Australia on Wednesday that “Fake islands should not be believed by real people,” in reference to China’s land reclamation activities.
“I believe the Chinese are building up combat power and positional advantage in an attempt to assert de facto sovereignty over disputed maritime features and spaces in the South China,” Harris added.
A spokesman for the US Pacific Fleet, Lt. Cmdr. Matt Knight, could not confirm Sunday’s exercise but told CNN they are a routine part of US Navy operations. The “excessive maritime claims” of 22 countries were challenged in the past fiscal year, he said.
Sunday’s exercise comes days after the Trump administration made a number of moves that appeared to irk Beijing, including sanctions against Chinese entities doing business with North Korea and the approval of a new arms sale to Taiwan.
Sunday’s operation was the second reported under the Trump administration.
The first came on May 24, when the guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey sailed within 12 miles (20 kilometers) of Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands chain, which lies to the south of the Paracels.
After that operation, China’s defense ministry said two Chinese frigates had “warned and dispelled” the USS Dewey after it had entered its waters “without permission.”
“We firmly opposed to the US behavior of showing force and boosting regional militarization, and have made solemn representation to the US side,” Defense Ministry spokesman Ren Guoqiang said at the time.
China did not respond Sunday to a CNN request for comment on the Stethem’s operation. Fox News first reported Sunday’s exercise.
China has said previously it is within its rights to do as it pleases with the islands, which it considers Chinese territory.
“Whether we decide to deploy or not deploy relevant military equipment, it is within our scope of sovereignty. It’s our right to self-defense and self-preservation as recognized by international law,” Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in March.
Last week, a report from the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative said China is continuing to build up infrastructure on three islands in the Spratly chain, Fiery Cross, Mischief and Subi reefs.
The content was originally appeared on CNN
