US warship sails near manmade Chinese-controlled isle in S.China Sea

BEIJING (Reuters) – A U.S. Navy destroyer sailed near the most important man-made and Chinese-controlled islands in the South China Sea on Wednesday, performing a freedom of navigation mission that Beijing has condemned illegal.

The U.S. makes frequent such voyages to contest territorial claims by China and others on the strategic seaway, but the most recent voyage took place when Beijing conducted more military exercises around Taiwan. was broken

The US Navy’s 7th Fleet said the USS Milius was engaged in “routine operations” within 12 nautical miles of Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands. The Spratly Islands were once submerged reefs at high tide and where China built airports and other facilities.

“Under customary international law, features such as Mischief Reef that are naturally formed and submerged at high tide are not entitled to have territorial waters,” the 7th Fleet said in a statement.

“The reclamation efforts, facilities and structures built on Mischief Reef do not change this characterization under international law.”

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army said a U.S. vessel had “illegally” entered waters near the reef without China’s approval, and its troops monitored and warned the vessel.

“China has unambiguous sovereignty over the islands in the South China Sea and surrounding waters,” the Southern Theater Command said.

Mischief Reef is located in the west of Palawan Island in the Philippines.

The 7th Fleet said at the end of the operation, Milius exited the “excessive claim area” and continued operations in the South China Sea.

Last month, China and the US clashed over the movement of the same ship. China said it had entered its territorial waters in the South China Sea near the Paracel Islands.

China claims vast territories through which trillions of dollars of trade flow every year.

Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also claim all or part of the South China Sea.

Reported by the Beijing Newsroom. By Ben Blanchard.Edited by Jamie Freed and Clarence Fernandez

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