World
War Three alert: ‘You CAN'T stop us sailing there’ US warship
heads into China Sea
THE
UNITED States have taken tensions with China to a new high by
"asserting their right" to sail warships past disputed
islands in the South China Sea.
1
October, 2018
A
guided-missile destroyer, USS Decatur sailed within 12 nautical miles
(13.8 miles on land) of reefs near the Spratly Islands in the South
China Sea, two US officials claim.
China
has asserted ownership of the Spratly islands, something which was
hotly contested by the US officials as “excessive maritime claims”.
Speaking
to CNN, one of the officials said: "US Forces operate in the
Indo-Pacific region on a daily basis, including the South China Sea.
All operations are designed in accordance with international law and
demonstrate that the United States will fly, sail and operate
wherever international law allows.
The
official said these operations “challenge excessive maritime claims
and demonstrate our commitment to uphold the rights, freedoms, and
uses of the sea and airspace guaranteed to all nations under
international law.”
China
has engaged in an ongoing dispute with the US over territorial
control in the South China Sea.
In
2015, the US began deploying military warships and aircraft to the
region, in a bid to dismiss China's territorial claims.
Last
week, on September 25, Chinese officials warned the UK to stay out of
the conflict after Royal Navy Warships were spotted close to the
disputed territory in the South China Sea.
Officials
quoted China’s top diplomat, State Councillor Wang Yi as saying:
“China hopes that Britain will truly implement its position of not
taking sides in the South China Sea issue, earnestly respect China's
sovereignty and territorial integrity and not do anything to disturb
mutual trust between the two countries.”
China
south sea
Tensions
between China and the US have been steadily mounting on multiple
fronts, as the two nations clash on military power, trade and
cyber-warfare.
On
September 26, US President Donald Trump accused China of meddling in
elections with the intention of harming him personally.
Mr
Trump said: "They do not want me, or us, to win because I am the
first President ever to challenge China on trade.”
His
comments came a week after his administration announced a 10% tariff
on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods, which would eventually mean
half the products China sells to the US would be penalized.
Mr
Wang said: "International trade is complementary and win-win by
nature. It should not be a zero-sum game in which one gains at the
expense of others, and no one should be allowed to place its own
interest above the interest of others.”
US
Secretary of Defence James Mattis told reporters at the Pentagon that
the two nations would have to learn to manage their differences.
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