The US denied that warships were 'chased away' by China in the East Sea 6
`USS John S. McCain was not ‘banished’ from any country’s territorial waters,` Lieutenant Colonel Joe Keiley, spokesman for the US Navy’s 7th Fleet, said today in an emailed statement.
The statement was made by Keiley after Colonel Tian Junli, spokesman for the Chinese Army’s Southern Theater Command, announced on December 22 that the Chinese army had deployed its air force and navy to `dispel
`We oppose all US actions that threaten China’s security and peace in the East Sea. Forces remain on high alert,` Tian said.
The US Navy’s Pacific Fleet previously announced that the guided missile destroyer USS John S. McCain had patrolled freedom of navigation near the Spratly Islands to `support freedom of navigation and use of
According to Keiley, China’s statement to `drive away` US warships is the country’s latest move in a series of actions to `misinterpret` legitimate US maritime activities as well as to declare sovereignty claims.
`China’s behavior is contrary to America’s commitment to international law and the vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific,` he said.
USS John S. McCain moved in the East Sea on December 22.
The US has recently increased sending ships to the East Sea to conduct freedom of navigation patrols, aiming to challenge China’s unreasonable sovereignty claims in the area.
Vietnam has repeatedly condemned China’s illegal activities in the East Sea.
US President Donald Trump’s administration is said to be focusing its efforts on `hitting` China in the final weeks of his term, after a year of tension and bilateral relations on the brink of a `new Cold War` due to a series of issues.
