Chinese fighter jets were scrambled today to respond as the USS William P. Lawrence, a guided missile destroyer, came within 12 nautical miles of the Fiery Cross Reef, a reef in the South China Sea whose ownership is disputed.
P
entagon spokesman Bill Urban said that the ship was sent to the reef specifically to “challenge excessive maritime claims” by China, saying they are inconsistent with international law, and that the US is “entitled” to sail through the area.
Secretary of State John Kerry, by contrast, insisted there was no intention to challenge anyone, and the ship was just passing through the area in a “regular process” of ships going to and fro. He said this after the Pentagon had already affirmed the move was an explicit challenge.
China’s Foreign Ministry complained the ship entered Chinese waters, a fact likely not supported by international law, as manufactured islands and built up reefs generally do not extend maritime borders. At the same time, with the US deliberately being confrontational in the matter, it’s unsurprising that China objects to it.
If China hadn’t manufactured these islands, the US would be staging its provocations in the Taiwan Strait.
“Just passing through.”
I have a bridge for sale, any takers?
Ever wonder why USA has not as yet done a false flag operation to get WWIII going? A reminder to Americans–it is called China Sea not Gulf of Mexico
Want to bet if it was the Russian fleet sailing all to close to a US oil Rig in the Gulf of Mexico it would be an altogether different argument, but hey its jut a man made island out in international waters! Oh just for your edification whilst the rest of the world according to the US navy has a twelve mile limit, America is Different Congress made a law that its 24 miles for the US! Yes American exceptionalism every one else except America!
Kerry is full of cr*p. Of course they were sent there to confront and antagonize, if not Kerry wouldn’t have sent them. Kerry and the regime he represents need to get it through their thick skulls that they cannot disrespect international law themselves and commit human rights abuses via proxy’s and expect others to follow suit. If they did, they would have credibility but they don’t and the world knows it. For too long the belligerents in DC have been dishonest brokers to the world so what goes around comes around.