U.S Deploys Two Warships In Disputed South China Sea After Chinese Ships Collision

The U.S has sent two of its warships to the Disputed South China Sea, where two Chinese ships recently collided while chasing a small Philippine patrol boat.

The guided missile destroyer USS Higgins and the littoral combat ship USS Cincinnati were shadowed by a Chinese naval vessel while sailing about 30 nm from the Scarborough Shoal. There were no reports of an untoward incident per Philippine Coast Guard Commodore Jay Tarriela.

China and the Philippines both lay claim to the Scarborough Shoal and other smaller islands in the South China Sea, while Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan also lay overlapping claims in the contested waters.

The U.S Navy has organised many freedom-of-navigation voyages in the South China Sea to challenge China’s demands, including entry permission and restrictions in the entire stretch of the waters, which Beijing claims to be a part of its territory.

The U.S presence has angered China, and its ships have hd close encounters with U.S naval ships and aircraft on such patrols in international waters and airspace.

U.S warships were deployed after Washington’s ambassador to Manila, MaryKay Carlson, condemned the latest reckless action by China against the Philippine ship in Scarborough.

The rich fishing atoll off the northwestern Philippines has been the site of tense confrontations between the Chinese and Philippine coast guard, fishing and other ships in recent years.

The Philippines is the oldest ally of the U.S in Asia, and Washington has stated that it will defend the Philippines if its forces come under an attack in the South China Sea.

The move was triggered by the recent incident when a Chinese navy destroyer and a Chinese Coast Guard ship accidentally collided while trying to block a small Philippine coast guard vessel, the BRP Suluan, about 10.5 nm from Scarborough.

Video footage showed the Chinese ship firing its water cannon and several Chinese personnel at the bow shortly before that section was struck by another Chinese naval vessel.

The aftermath was the heavily damaged bow of the Chinese coast guard ship without the Chinese personnel who were standing there before the collision. The Chinese vessel sustained deep dents and linear gouges on its hull.

Australia, New Zealand and Japan expressed alarm over the dangerous Chinese manoeuvres that led to the collision.

Tarriela, the Philippine coast guard commodore, told the media that this incident is a learning experience for China, and for many years, we have reminded them to stop the dangerous manoeuvres, halt the risky blockings and follow the anti-collision regulations because if there is a high chance of miscalculation, this kind of collision incident would happen.

Tarriela spoke after a Chinese fighter jet flew as close as 150 m to try to drive away a Philippine coast guard on a surveillance flight over the Scarborough with invited journalists on board.

The Chinese jet carried out dangerous manoeuvres for 20 minutes, including flying about 60 m above the small Philippine aircraft, he added.

Source: Maritime Shipping News