US freedom of navigation continues despite China’s opposition

The United States is not daunted by Beijing’s confrontation in its recent operation in the disputed South China Sea where the latter claims ownership.

Thus, Washington will continue its activities there, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said.

Just days ago, US sent two of its warships in the disputed waters as it conducted “freedom of navigation”, which provoked China and led the latter to warn them off.

The Chinese government said that warships sailing in the disputed waters where China claims ownership is a serious infringement” of its “inherent territory.”

But Mattis said, there is only one country that seems to take active steps to rebuff or state their resentment over the US recent freedom of navigation operations in the international waters.

He also said that there are a lot of nations who want to see this freedom of navigation, that is why the US will continue doing so as this is also a form of confronting China’s aggressive militarization and its inordinate claim of territories in the South China Sea.

“We’re going out of our way to cooperate with the Pacific nations. That’s the way we do business in the world. But we’re also going to confront what we believe is out of step with international law and out of step with international tribunals that have spoken on the issue, and part of this is we maintain a very transparent military activity out in the Pacific,” Mattis said.

(DAILY NEWS ROUND UP FOR 05/ 30 /18)