On October 27, the United States sent the USS Lassen, a guided-missile destroyer, within 12 miles of one of China’s man-made islands in the Spratly archipelago. More than 700 miles separate the archipelago from China, but China has been busy pouring sand on top of reefs — building over 2,000 acres of new land over the past year. Adding insult to injury, China now claims that the 12-mile area surrounding these artificial creations form part of Chinese territorial waters. International law provides no basis for such claims; the waters remain international and all countries are free to navigate through them without restriction. The freedom of navigation operation was meant to defend and reassert that principle and send an important message throughout the South China Sea region that the United States will not allow China to violate international law and restrict the sea lines of communication in this critical waterway through which over $5 trillion of goods flow annually.
Reaction to the operation from countries throughout the South China Sea and beyond was swift and positive. President Aquino of the Philippines stated that he saw “no issue as to this U.S. Navy ship traversing under international law in waters that should be free to be traveled upon by any country,” reflecting the sentiment of many in the region. Japan and Australia expressed support, as did the European Union. Several countries suggested that they may be willing to join the United States in future freedom of navigation operations, serving as a powerful reminder that others follow when America leads.
But unfortunately, the Obama administration felt compelled to obscure its show of strength behind a smoke screen of weakness and equivocation that undermined the very purpose of the operation.
………
Read more at Washingtontimes
Click here for updated South China Sea news
