China Protests U.S. Navy Freedom of Navigation Exercises in South China Sea

With only a month before President Trump’s first visit to Asia and China as president, the U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Chafee (DDG 90) conducted normal maneuvering operations that challenge “excessive maritime claims” near the Paracel Islands.

While China offered their standard “stern representations” and reiterated their unilateral claim that the Paracels were Chinese territory, in fact, unlike operations in August, this U.S. Navy exercise respected the 12-nautical-mile limit of the islands.

Such restraint by the U.S. likely reflects the balance of national priorities between reinforcing freedom of navigation and securing Chinese support of sanctions on North Korea. 

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