Beijing: US Warships Have Undermined Chinese Sovereignty

News Portals: Friday, May 26, 2017 - 08:05 pm US warship USS Dewey reportedly violated the Spratly Islands region, South China Sea, which China claimed, Thursday (05/25/2017). [Photo / Facebook / Commander, US Third Fleet]

WWIII - The Chinese government has accused the United States of committing offenses after USS Dewey warships armed with missiles sailing near a coral reef in the South China Sea that Beijing claims. The action of the warship is considered to have undermined Beijing's sovereignty.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said the USS Dewey ship entered the area of ​​Beijing without the permission of the Chinese government.

"The relevant actions undertaken by US vessels undermine China's sovereignty and security interests, and are very likely to cause unexpected sea and air accidents," Lu Kang said in a press conference, as quoted by Reuters on Friday (26/5/2017).Beijing, he said, urged Washington to stop its provocative actions.

The USS Dewey warship sailed about 12 nautical miles from the Mischief Reef-part of the Spratly Islands, South China Sea-on Thursday morning local time. A US official speaking on condition of anonymity said the cruise ship wars under the principle of "freedom of navigation" was the first time under the administration of President Donald Trump.

According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982, territorial waters are defined as coastal waters belts stretching 12 nautical miles from shore. Another US official who also spoke on condition of anonymity said the Washington warship was maneuvering while sailing within 12 nautical miles of a Chinese-made island in the South China Sea. According to him, the maneuver is to show that Beijing is not entitled to the territorial sea around it.

"USS Dewey is involved in normal operations by conducting maneuvering exercises within 12 nautical miles on the Mischief Reef," he said.

The Pentagon is still reluctant to confirm what USS Dewey warships are doing in the South China Sea. "We operate in the Asia Pacific region every day, including in the South China Sea," Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis said in a statement.

"We operate in accordance with international law," Davis said, stressing that US patrols are not about one country.Although the Pentagon was reluctant to confirm the report, the photos published on Facebook's "Commander, US Third Fleet" Facebook page indicate that the US ship was sailing in disputed waters.

"USS Dewey (DDG 105) transits in the South China Sea before refueling (fuel) at sea with USNS Pecos (T-AO-197)," the caption said.