China says it “warned and expelled” a United States (US)-guided missile destroyer in the South China Sea (SCS). Reports surrounding China’s claims are contradictory, given that some have said that it was United States Ship (USS) Mustin that was expelled, while others have said that it was USS Barry.
According to Chinese military spokesperson Li Huamin, “China’s Southern Theater army command organized sea and air forces to track, monitor, verify, and identify the US ships throughout the journey, and warned and expelled them.” He added that “the provocative actions of the United States seriously violated relevant international law norms, seriously violated China’s sovereignty and security interests”. In response, the Pentagon said that Beijing’s “launch of four ballistic missiles during military exercises” around the disputed islands drew into question its commitment to the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties, which denounces subversive activities in the SCS.
Furthermore, Washington denied that Chinese forces had impacted either of its ships’ movements during “two successful freedom of navigation operations” earlier in the week—including one involving the guided-missile destroyer USS Barry (DDG-52). In April, the US Navy confirmed that it was sending USS Barry to conduct freedom of navigation operations (FONOPs) near the Paracel Islands. The other destroyer, USS Mustin, was deployed near the Paracel Islands following a Chinese missile launch. The public affairs division of the US Pacific Fleet reported that its guided-missile destroyer, USS Mustin (DDG 89), conducted a “freed of navigation operation” in the SCS yesterday. The destroyer is based in Yokosuka, Japan, and headed to Paracel Islands to “ensure critical shipping lanes in the area remain free and open”. The Chinese military claims that USS Mustin sailed into “China’s territorial waters” near Xisha Islands, the name given by Beijing to the disputed archipelagoes. Vietnam, which calls them the Paracel Islands, accused China of violating its sovereignty by conducting military drills near its Islands. Vietnam’s foreign ministry official, Le Thi Thu Hang, said, “China’s repeated military exercises in [the Paracel Islands] violate Vietnam’s sovereignty, complicating negotiations for a Code of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea between China and ASEAN.”
Another stakeholder in the SCS disputes, the Philippines, maintains that US presence in the region is beneficial. Filipino Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said, “It benefits the Philippine interests that we have a US presence in the region, I’ve said that very clearly. It is the same as the presence of Great Britain of the European coast in the old days of the balance of power,” and added, “Again, we have a balance of power situation. Yes, we need the US presence in Asia.” While welcoming Washington’s presence, the Philippines is simultaneously trying to ease tensions with Beijing. Earlier this month, the Philippines announced that it would refrain from conducting joint naval exercises in the contested waters of SCS. Regarding Philippines conflict with China in the West Philippines Sea, President Rodrigo Dutere remarked that his country “cannot afford a war” with China, and even went to the extent of calling himself “inutil” (useless) in defending the nation’s sovereignty.
Growing tensions between China and the US have paved the way for the latter to espouse a revised policy on the SCS. US Foreign Secretary Mike Pompeo asserted Washington’s commitment to SCS arbitration, and, unlike in the past, detailed the American position on specific SCS disputes, including the Scarborough Reef and the Spratly Islands, and even affirmed his support for Vietnam. In conjunction with the revised policy, the US imposed a fresh set of sanctions on 24 state-owned Chinese companies that allegedly participated in building disputed artificial islands in the SCS waters. The Chinese Foreign Ministry (FM) condemned the sanctions, calling them “illegal”, and Zhao Lijian, the FM’s spokesperson, said that the iteration of sanctions “reflects the hegemonic logic and power politics of the US”.
Tensions Mount in SCS as China Claims it “Expelled” US Guided-Missile Destroyer
The Pentagon denied China’s claims and condemned it for launching ballistic missiles.
August 28, 2020
Illustration by Craig Stephens SOURCE: SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST