China Protests US Warship Obeying ‘International Law’ in South China Sea, US Claims

A US navy ship that passed near the Paracel Islands has upset China’s ruling communist party as it seeks control of the region. According to a source, this occurred during a dispute with the Chinese military in the South China Sea. A U.S. Navy Commander stated that the warship was obeying international law. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army deployed forces to follow and warn away the US destroyer, announcing on WeChat that the US posed a ‘security risk’ in the region. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has continued expanding in the Indo-Pacific, pushing claims opposed by several other countries in the area. $3.3 trillion in global maritime trade passes through the disputed area annually. The Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in 2016 that China’s claim to the South China Sea has no legal basis. The US Navy believes that the USS Hopper was upholding freedom of navigation in accordance with international law and opposes excessive maritime claims, adding that Vietnam and China are both signatories to the UNCLOS. The US has urged the CCP to work with regional partners to develop a set of regulations for the disputed region, while the Chinese President has disregarded prior promises and instead continued militarizing the area.



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