US Conducts Freedom of Navigation Operation Near China-Held Features in Spratlys

The operation comes shortly after the unveiling of a new South China Sea position by the U.S. government.

On Tuesday, a U.S. Navy warship conducted a freedom of navigation operation near Chinese-held features in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. The operation was the first publicly reported FONOP since May 28.
USS Ralph Johnson, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, sailed within 12 nautical miles for Cuarteron Reef and Fiery Cross Reef — the sites of two Chinese artificial islands — in the South China Sea. The operation coincided with the announcement of a new position by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific David Stillwell at a virtual event hosted by the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.
In his remarks, Stillwell spoke of China’s «campaign to impose an order of ‘might makes right’ in the South China Sea,» and said «Beijing is working to undermine the sovereign rights of other coastal states and deny them access to offshore resources».
The United States began conducted freedom of navigation operations within 12 nautical miles of Chinese features in the South China Sea in October 2015 under the Obama administration.

This article was written by Ankit Panda

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