U.S. Navy Ships Sail Near Disputed South China Sea Islands

According to a report on July 16th, a U.S. Navy destroyer sailed off the disputed Spratly Islands on Saturday, the second such “freedom of navigation” operation in the South China Sea in a week, the U.S. Navy said.

On Wednesday, the Chinese military said it had “driven away” the same ship, the USS Benford, as it sailed off the disputed Paracel Islands.

The U.S. routinely conducts so-called “freedom of navigation” operations in the South China Sea, challenging what it says are restrictions on harmless sailing imposed by Communist China and other claimants.

On July 16th, the USS Benfold (DDG 65) asserted rights and freedom of navigation near the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea in accordance with international law, the U.S. Navy said in a statement. Communist China said it did not impede freedom of navigation or overflight, accusing the U.S. of deliberately stoking tensions.

Monday marked the sixth anniversary of an international court ruling that Communist China’s claims to the South China Sea is invalidate. South China Sea is a ship conduit that worth around $3 trillion US dollars of trading annually. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) never accepted the ruling and it claimed almost the entire South China Sea. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei all have been competing for South China Sea and the claims often have overlapped.

The CCP has built artificial islands, including airports on some of its South China Sea territory, raising concerns in the region about the Chinese government’s intentions.