Exclusive: U.S. warship sails near disputed South China Sea island, officials say

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...-china-sea-island-officials-say-idUSKBN1GZ0VY

WASHINGTON/BEIJING (Reuters) - A U.S. Navy destroyer carried out a “freedom of navigation” operation on Friday, coming within 12 nautical miles of an artificial island built by China in the South China Sea, U.S. officials told Reuters.

The operation, which infuriated Beijing, was the latest attempt to counter what Washington sees as China’s efforts to limit freedom of navigation in the strategic waters.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the destroyer Mustin traveled close to Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands and carried out maneuvering operations. China has territorial disputes with its neighbors over the area.

Twelve nautical miles is an internationally recognized territorial limit.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mischief_Reef

China condemns U.S. navy operation in South China Sea

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...vy-operation-in-south-china-sea-idUSKBN1GZ1HE

BEIJING (Reuters) - China’s Defence Ministry said on Friday the United States had seriously harmed the country’s sovereignty and security after a U.S. Navy destroyer carried out a “freedom of navigation” operation in the disputed South China Sea.

JacksinPA said:

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...-china-sea-island-officials-say-idUSKBN1GZ0VY

WASHINGTON/BEIJING (Reuters) - A U.S. Navy destroyer carried out a “freedom of navigation” operation on Friday, coming within 12 nautical miles of an artificial island built by China in the South China Sea, U.S. officials told Reuters.

The operation, which infuriated Beijing, was the latest attempt to counter what Washington sees as China’s efforts to limit freedom of navigation in the strategic waters.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the destroyer Mustin traveled close to Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands and carried out maneuvering operations. China has territorial disputes with its neighbors over the area.

Twelve nautical miles is an internationally recognized territorial limit.

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We should build islands just off the Chinese coast and off St. Petersberg.

The United States of Arrogance isn't happy unless we are killing others & sending our boys to early graves ................

cuban smokes said:

The United States of Arrogance isn't happy unless we are killing others & sending our boys to early graves ................

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Conservatives call filling up Arlington Natl Cemetery patriotic. Is dying without purpose patriotic? All those young men who died without purpose in Vietnam were patriotic.

JacksinPA said:

Conservatives call filling up Arlington Natl Cemetery patriotic. Is dying without purpose patriotic? All those young men who died without purpose in Vietnam were patriotic.

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That is why conservatives are against abortion; they need all the warm bodies they can get for cannon fodder so, they can end up as cold, bloody corpses ...........

JacksinPA said:

Conservatives call filling up Arlington Natl Cemetery patriotic. Is dying without purpose patriotic? All those young men who died without purpose in Vietnam were patriotic.

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And you still have freedom of speech. Imagine that.

cuban smokes said:

The United States of Arrogance isn't happy unless we are killing others & sending our boys to early graves ................

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Why should we pretend that the Chicoms magically own every rock in the South China Sea? Last I checked there were about a dozen countries with claims. And no, it’s not “arrogant” not to give in to every Chinese fantasy.

chuckiechan said:

And you still have freedom of speech. Imagine that.

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What did the Vietnam War have to do with freedom of speech? It was a colossal waste. McNamara knew in 1965 that that war was unwinnable & the U.S. kept sending young men to fill up Arlington. It was a criminal waste. Daniel Ellsberg should get the Nobel Peace Prize for helping to get our a**es out of that hell hole.

JacksinPA said:

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...-china-sea-island-officials-say-idUSKBN1GZ0VY

WASHINGTON/BEIJING (Reuters) - A U.S. Navy destroyer carried out a “freedom of navigation” operation on Friday, coming within 12 nautical miles of an artificial island built by China in the South China Sea, U.S. officials told Reuters.

The operation, which infuriated Beijing, was the latest attempt to counter what Washington sees as China’s efforts to limit freedom of navigation in the strategic waters.

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We have been doing this for 2 centuries now. President Carter did it, as did Clinton and Obama. President Reagan most famously did it in the 1980's several times.

So what is the big deal now? We regularly do this (as do other nations), when one country tries to insist that International Waters belong exclusively to them. It is more or less like property laws.

Build a fence in your neighbor's property and they do nothing about it, eventually even the law will recognize the fence as the new property line. This is no different. Waters need to be crossed occasionally in order to enforce the right of passage, or eventually the new boundaries will be considered to exist.

Did you condemn President Obama in 2016 when he did the same thing, sailing destroyers past the Spratly Islands? If not, then you are a hypocrite.