WH rebukes Beijing's accusation of US intrusion in Chinese waters
The 7th fleet issued a statement denying China's claims that the US had violated China's territorial integrity.
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US missile cruiser Chancellorsville
The US Navy’s 7th Fleet published on Tuesday a statement rebuking China's accusations about a US missile cruiser Chancellorsville trespassing Chinese waters.
"On November 29, 2022, USS Chancellorsville (CG 62) asserted navigational rights and freedoms in the South China Sea near the Spratly Islands, consistent with international law. At the conclusion of the operation, USS Chancellorsville exited the excessive claim area and continued operations in the South China Sea," the 7th Fleet said in a statement.
The statement adds that "unlawful and sweeping maritime claims in the South China Sea pose a serious threat to the freedom of the seas, including the freedoms of navigation and overflight, free trade, and unimpeded commerce, and freedom of economic opportunity for South China Sea littoral nations."
Earlier today, China's military announced it drove away a US guided-missile cruiser that intruded into waters near the South China Sea's "Spratly" Islands.
"The actions of the US military seriously violated China's sovereignty and security," said Tian Junli, spokesman for the Southern Theatre Command of the People's Liberation Army.
Reports suggest that the USS Chancellorsville guided missile cruiser had recently sailed through the Taiwan Strait. However, there was no comment from the US military.
Junli said the US cruiser's intrusion proved that the US was risking security in the South China Sea and "is another iron-clad proof of its hegemony in the navigation and militarization of the South China Sea."
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US warships have passed through the South China Sea with increasing frequency in recent years, in a show of force against China.
For a while now, the US and China have shared strained ties, especially after the US House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, made a provocative trip to Taiwan.
The strategic term "international waters" has been used by the US and its allies several times to continue their provocations against China.
In a press conference on June 13, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said, "there is no legal basis of 'international waters' in the international law of the sea. It is a false claim when certain countries call the Taiwan Strait “international waters” in order to find a pretext for manipulating issues related to Taiwan and threatening China’s sovereignty and security. China is firmly against this."
