Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Russian agency: Russia will conduct a nuclear test if the US does
Al-Nakhalah: We are the rightful owners, and we must fight to retrieve our rights
Al-Nakhalah: The enemy and its allies must know that we can never surrender to their terms and diktats after all the sacrifices made
Al-Nakhalah: The prisoner exchange clause can be completed in the next few days, and thus we will have pulled the [explosion] fuse and removed the enemy's justifications for aggression
Al-Nakhalah: The Resistance has expressed its willingness to negotiate on the basis that there are items that can be dealt with positively, the first of which is the prisoner exchange item
Al-Nakhalah: Trump's plan entails the Palestinian people's declaration of complete surrender to the enemy
PIJ Secretary-General, Ziyad al-Nakhalah, in an address aired on Al Mayadeen: The Resistance is engaging in a fierce negotiating battle under the so-called Trump plan
Russian Federation Council approves joint military cooperation agreement with Cuba
Al-Nunu: Today, the lists of prisoners required to be released, the agreed-upon criteria and numbers, were exchanged
Al-Nunu from Sharm el-Sheikh: Negotiations focused on mechanisms for implementing an end to the war, the withdrawal of occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, and the exchange of prisoners

China drives US destroyer away from South China Sea

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 20 Jan 2022 12:37
3 Min Read

The USS Benfold illegally enters the South China Sea in another one of Washington's provocations against China.

  • x
  • The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold, forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet in the Indo-Pacific region, transits the Philippine Sea, June 14, 2018. Sarah Myers/U.S. Navy/Handout via REUTERS
    The guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold, forward-deployed IN the US 7th Fleet in the Indo-Pacific region, June 14, 2018. (Reuters)

On Thursday, a US warship - the USS Benfold - sailed through the South China Sea, which prompted a warning from Chinese military as tensions escalate in the region. 

The Southern Theatre Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) said that the ship "illegally" entered Chinese waters, and that the PLA "organized naval and air forces to engage in tracking and monitoring as well to warn and drive [the destroyer] away," according to the statement.

In response, the US navy said that the warship "asserted navigational rights and freedoms in the vicinity of the Paracel Islands, consistent with international law." 

China claims most of the South China Sea, where trillions of dollars in trade pass by on a yearly basis. 

The United States and its western allies repeatedly stir up tension by conducting military operations in the sea under the guise of "freedom of navigation operations".

The reports on the USS Benfold were the first declared "freedom of navigation operation" - known as FONOP - in 2022. 

Related News

US Senate rejects Democratic funding bill amid budget deadlock

Ansar Allah renew vow to support Gaza until 'Israel' halts its war

AUKUS and the South China Sea

This announcement comes almost two months after the US, UK, and Australia formed a defense alliance, AUKUS, to boost the latter's nuclear capabilities and "strengthen stability in the Indo-Pacific region." 

At the time, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that the AUKUS agreement between the three countries poses a danger to regional peace, stability, and international order.

The United Kingdom in October announced its decision to increase military deployment in the South China Sea. 

China expressed its grave concern, saying that "this move will escalate regional tensions, provoke an arms race, threaten regional peace and stability, and undermine international efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons."

US military provocations in the South China Sea 

In November, according to Chinese data, there were 94 US reconnaissance flights over the South China Sea - 10 of those flights were detected on November 4 alone. 

In the same month, the US and Japan held military exercises: the Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) of Japan and the United States Navy conducted their first cooperative anti-submarine training in the South China Sea on November 16, according to the MSDF.

MSDF Chief of Staff Hiroshi Yamamura said at a news conference: "The ability to conduct an advanced (joint) drill in any areas of the sea shows a high level of interoperability between Japan and the United States," adding that "It also represents the deterrence and response capability of the MSDF and the U.S. Navy."

  • USS Benfold
  • South China Sea
  • United States
  • AUKUS
  • United Kingdom
  • China

Most Read

Tucker Carlson speaks at a memorial for Charlie Kirk, Sunday, September 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (AP)

Tucker Carlson: Israeli officers gave orders on Iran inside Pentagon

  • Politics
  • 2 Oct 2025
A Hamas fighter in combat fatigues stands before the ceremony for the handover of Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Saturday, February 22, 2025 (AP)

Hamas responds to Trump plan, backs Gaza withdrawal, exchange

  • Politics
  • 3 Oct 2025
Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder revealed

Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder exposed

  • Politics
  • 5 Oct 2025
Al-Quds Brigades strike a command and control center north of Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, in an undated screengrab from the al-Quds Brigades military media

Gaza resistance announces major operations against Israeli forces

  • Politics
  • 1 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Retired Israeli General Brik says Israel has reached point of no return.
Politics

Retired Israeli General Brik: 'Israel has reached point of no return'

Depleted by foreign wars, US seeks to re-arm for another confrontation
Politics

Depleted by foreign wars, US seeks to re-arm for another confrontation

Gaza’s newborns gasp for life as hospitals collapse amid Israeli war
Health

Gaza newborns gasp for life, share oxygen masks amid collapsed system

UK arms exports to 'Israel' reach record high despite ban calls
Politics

UK arms exports to 'Israel' reach record high despite ban calls

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS