Shipping
New tensions between USA and China
The USA continuing to show military presence in the South China sea. A US warship approached the archipelago, the China of its territory counts. In Beijing evaluated the maneuver as provocation.
The “USS Curtis Wilbur” took a course on Triton. The only 1.2 square kilometers large island belongs to the Paracel archipelago, China is claimed. The U.S. destroyer urge on his journey into the Twelve-nautical-mile Zone around the small island. Objective of the use according to the U.S. Department of defense: the defense of the “freedom of navigation in the South China sea”.
Not only China, but also Taiwan and Vietnam claim the Islands. But to this Territorialstreitigkeiten it was the use of the “USS Curtis Wilbur” is not gone, it was said from the Pentagon. Rather, it wanted the United States to the international law of the sea shall enforce. You wanted to Try China’s, Taiwan’s and Vietnam in the face as navigation rights of the United States and other countries to limit, by a previous permission or a special permit in the relevant waters is required. According to Pentagon spokesperson, Jeff Davis, there were no ships of the Chinese Navy in the vicinity, as the “Curtis Wilbur” in the area was on the way.
The Chinese Ministry of foreign Affairs condemned the maneuver immediately: The U.S. warship have laws are violated, without the prior permission in Chinese waters penetrated. China have taken action. This included admonitions and increased Surveillance of the area.
“Deliberate Provocation”
Sharper was the reaction in the Chinese Ministry of defense. The US approach was a deliberate provocation, irresponsible and extremely dangerous. Chinese Navy ships would immediately have acted, it said on the website of the Ministry of defense in Beijing. Among other things, whether the “Curtis Wilbur” been warned on a distance to stay. China’s military will do everything that national sovereignty and national security to defend.
It is not the first Time that a US warship by China-claimed sea area crosses. In October, the destroyer “Let” is close to Islands drove by, which the leadership in Beijing, especially in the South China sea by Landaufschüttungen artificially enlarge.
Had US representative announced that such ship movements in the future take place regularly. In a first reaction said now the Chairman of the defense Committee in the U.S. Senate, John McCain, he hope that these missions will become Routine, and that China and others are accepted.
Through the South China sea to run some of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. A third of the world’s Erdöltransporte are on the way here.
AR/kle (afp/AP/Reuters)