The Pentagon ignores a new Chinese law that requires foreign ships to enter its “territorial waters” and report to Beijing, claiming that the US Navy’s operations in the South China Sea will not be affected.
“The United States will continue to fly, sail, and operate wherever international law permits,” Lieutenant Colonel Martin Miners, spokesperson for the Department of Defense, told Military) star badges and armbands Last Wednesday, Beijing immediately notified the new law.
According to the new Regulation, Foreign ships should report ship and cargo information to the China Maritime Safety Administration. This includes submersibles, nuclear ships, ships carrying radioactive materials, ships carrying bulk petroleum, chemicals, liquefied gas and other toxic and hazardous materials. Ships deemed to pose a threat to the country’s maritime traffic safety should also abide by the rules.
However, the United States calls it a “serious threat” to the freedom of navigation and trade. Pentagon spokesman John Supp stated that the United States has long insisted that the laws of one country “must not violate” the rights of other countries under international law.
“Illegal and extensive maritime claims, including in the South China Sea, pose a serious threat to the freedom of navigation and overflight, free trade and unhindered maritime freedom of legal commerce, and the rights and interests of the South China Sea and other coastal countries,” the news media quoted Supple as saying.
Beijing claims to own most of the South China Sea rights, including the Taiwan Strait and several island chains in the South China Sea. However, these claims have not been approved by neighboring countries including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Although China claims to have resources in the “nine-dash line” waters, the US Navy often conducts freedom of navigation operations in the area.
Recently, the guided missile destroyer USS Kidd Pass by In the Taiwan Strait, the navy passed through the waterway for the eighth time this year. This has angered China, claiming it is the creator of the greatest threat to peace and stability in the 160-kilometer-wide Taiwan Strait and the creator of security risks.
Taiwan also expressed concern about China’s new laws. Taipei Times Quoting Su Ziyun, Director of the National Defense Strategy and Resources Division of the National Defense and Strategic Research Institute, the new law will give “Beijing an excuse to deal with freedom of navigation exercises conducted by other countries.”
Photo: AFP/Ted ALJIBE
