On Monday, a US Navy ship conducted a freedom of navigation mission close to one of the most significant artificial islands under Chinese control in the South China Sea, which Beijing criticized as being unlawful.
The most recent one took place as Beijing conducted more war drills surrounding Taiwan, despite the fact that the United States often makes similar excursions to contest China’s and other states’ territorial claims in the crucial waterway.
The USS Milius engaged in “normal operations,” according to the 7th Fleet of the US Navy, within 12 nautical miles of Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands, which was formerly a reef submerged at high tide and where China has constructed an airstrip and other infrastructure.
The 7th Fleet issued a statement saying, “Under customary international law, features like Mischief Reef that are submerged at high tide in their naturally formed state are not entitled to a territorial sea.”
“The land reclamation efforts, installations, and structures built on Mischief Reef do not change this characterisation under international law.”
The People’s Liberation Army of China claimed that the American ship had “illegally” approached the reef’s vicinity without permission and that its personnel had kept watch over it and issued warnings.
According to its Southern Theatre Command, China has undeniable authority over the islands in the South China Sea and the adjacent nautical area.
West of the Philippine island of Palawan is Mischief Reef.
The Milius left the “excessive claim area,” according to the 7th Fleet, and continued operations in the South China Sea.
The movement of the same ship, which China said had crossed its territorial waters in the South China Sea near the Paracel Islands, sparked a dispute between China and the U.S. last month.
