Beijing’s strong statement warns to stop provocative actions / The United States advocates the right to freedom of navigation in the South China Sea
Reporter Wang Zhicheng / Taipei Report
On the 24th, a U.S. guided missile destroyer once again sailed into the “territorial waters” of the Xisha Islands claimed by the Chinese mainland. The Chinese Ministry of National Defense issued a rare and strongly worded statement, demanding that the U.S. immediately stop such “provocative actions”, otherwise it will be responsible for the “accidents” caused by it. serious consequences of the incident. The U.S. Seventh Fleet emphasized that the naval missile destroyer USS Milius’s assertion of navigation rights and freedom of action in the South China Sea is in line with international law.
The Milius sailed into the Xisha waters a few days ago, triggering the Southern Theater of the Communist Army to send aircraft and ships to follow and monitor, claiming to warn and drive away; the US military later stated that the Milius was performing a routine mission in the South China Sea and was not expelled.
On the afternoon of the 24th, the official website of the Ministry of National Defense of the Mainland released a press spokesman, Tan Kefei, saying that the guided-missile destroyer USS Milius broke into the “territorial waters” of the Xisha Islands again without the approval of the mainland government, undermining the peace and stability of the South China Sea region. Follow up and monitor, and give warning to drive away.
Tan Kefei said that the actions of the US military have seriously violated the sovereignty and security of the mainland and violated international law.
Tan Kefei also claimed that the Chinese side solemnly requests the US side to stop such “provocative actions” immediately, otherwise it will bear the serious consequences of the “accidental incident” caused by it. The Mainland People’s Liberation Army will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and security, and resolutely maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.
The official website of the U.S. Seventh Fleet issued a statement emphasizing that the Milius claimed the right and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea near the Paracel Islands in accordance with international law; after the operation ended, it withdrew from the (land) excessively claimed waters and continued to operate in the South China Sea.
The statement emphasized that illegal and extensive maritime claims in the South China Sea pose a serious threat to the freedom of the seas, including freedom of navigation and overflight, free trade and unimpeded commerce, and freedom of economic opportunity for states littoral in the South China Sea.
In the past, when U.S. warships carried out “freedom of navigation missions” and sailed into the “territorial waters” of the South China Sea claimed by the mainland, the Southern Theater Command of the Communist Army issued a notification; but this time, the mainland’s Ministry of National Defense issued a stronger statement warning the U.S. side.
The mainland had previously unilaterally suspended the dialogue mechanism between the US and the US because of the US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, and it has not resumed so far.
