China slams US destroyer's "trespassing"

TOKYO, May 10 (KUNA) -- China's military on Friday slammed the US for its destroyer sailing through the Paracel Island chain in the South China Sea, calling it "illegal trespassing." "The guided-missile destroyer USS Halsey (DDG 97) illegally trespassed into the territorial waters of China's Xisha Islands (Paracel Islands) without the Chinese government's permission on May 10, and the Chinese People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command organized naval and air forces to track, monitor and warn it off in accordance with the law and regulations," Command's spokesman Tian Junli said in a written statement.
Tian slammed that the US action has seriously violated China's sovereignty and security, adding that this is yet another irrefutable evidence of the US "navigation hegemony" and "militarization of the South China Sea", and fully demonstrates that the US is nothing but the "security risk maker in the South China Sea" and the "biggest destroyer" of peace and stability in the South China Sea.
"The troops of the Command will always stay on high alert and resolutely safeguard China's national sovereignty and security, as well as peace and stability in the South China Sea," he added.
Meanwhile, the 7th Fleet under the US Pacific Command said in a statement on Friday that USS Halsey asserted navigational rights and freedoms in the South China Sea near the Paracel Islands, consistent with international Law.
"This freedom of navigation operation upheld the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the sea recognized in international law by challenging the restrictions on innocent passage imposed by the People's Republic of China (PRC), Taiwan, and Vietnam and also by challenging the PRC's claim to straight baselines enclosing the Paracel Islands," the 7th Fleet said.
"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," it added.
The US Navy also stressed that, by engaging in innocent passage without giving prior notification to or asking permission from any of the claimants, the US challenged these unlawful restrictions imposed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
"The US demonstrated that innocent passage is not subject to such restrictions," it said. (end) mk.mt