China has officially condemned the US Naval patrol in the South China Sea near the reefs and manmade islets that are purportedly Chinese. The Chinese government summoned the US Ambassador in China Max Baucus to officially lodge a strong protest against the US naval activities in the region.
USS Lassen was sighted Tuesday patrolling near the Chinese manmade islets and one of the Chinese vessels shadowed it the whole time it was in the vicinity. However, according to US officials it happened in a complete professional manner.
“All maneuvers by Chinese vessels and aircraft were safe and professional,” according to the official who spoke to US media on the condition of anonymity.
This has irked the Chinese government sovereignty over the South China Sea. Some of the Chinese government officials have even issued warning statements, which indicates that China does not want to settle this peacefully.
“This action by the United States threatens China’s sovereignty and security interests and endangers the safety of personnel and facilities on the reef, which is a serious provocation” said Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui.
Although the US had officially announced weeks before that it would be making naval patrols in the area. Sheila Smith, senior fellow for Japan studies at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington said that China’s reaction to the activities clearly suggests “that they are not ready to peacefully resolve these disputes but, in fact, their buildup and the presence of Chinese military on these islands suggests that they want a fait accompli. They just simply want to occupy the islands.”
However, this will not be the last patrol by the US in the area that is claimed by many of its neighbors like the Philippines and Vietnam as well. US Senator John McCain, one of the highly decorated US Naval officers and Vietnam War veteran said this patrol was long overdue. He said that the Chinese escalation in troop deployment in the South China Sea makes it impossible for anyone to exercise the freedom to navigate in the open free seas. He called for more patrols in the areas that are deemed open and neutral seas.
Most of the neighbors to China have welcomed the US Navy patrol in the area, though in calculated terms. Japan, who is deeply concerned about China’s escalation in military activities in the area and welcomed US patrol and stated that it will continue to share military intelligence with the US.
Vietnam, though silent throughout the incident also shares the same sentiments. As China is the giant neighbor it has not made any statements. However, Nguyen Ngoc Truong, a former Vietnamese diplomat said Vietnam’s silence it actually an agreement with the US patrol in the area.
About 200 Chinese troops are believed to be stationed at the Subi reef that is naturally above sea level on low tide. However, its increasing movements in the vicinity and objection and shadowing of any alien vessels in the open sea which it cannot claim has become controversial in recent months. China’s constructional improvisation on islets like Subi make them manmade islets.
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