Ranking Chinese military official suggest attack versus US warship in South China Sea

A high ranking Chinese military official called for a more aggressive approach against United States warships conducting freedom of navigation operations in the disputed South China Sea.

Dai Xu, president of the Institute of Marine Safety and Cooperation and a senior colonel in the People’s Liberation Army Air Force, said Beijing should not allow American warships to “create disturbance.”

The official added that Washington’s freedom of navigation operations are provocations against Beijing and interference in the country’s sovereignty, the Global Times reported.

He also claimed that China has never influenced US operations in international waters but they should not enter Chinese waters.

The US, known for its stance for freedom of navigation, has been increasing its operations in the South China Sea, where several countries, including the Philippines, China, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam have overlapping claims.

The most recent confrontation between Washington and Beijing was in November when the Chinese navy sent its forces to warn a US warship sailing through the contested territory.

The US Navy’s guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville was then conducting a freedom of navigation operation near the Paracel Islands.

Citing a report from the South China Morning Post, China’s Southern Theatre Command claimed that the US warship entered the waters around the Paracels without approval of the Chinese government.

Beijing then deployed navy and air forces to monitor USS Chancellorsville and warned it to leave the area.

According to US Pacific Fleet spokesperson Nathan Christensesn, the US warship sailed near the islands to “challenge excessive maritime claims and preserve access to the waterways as governed by international law.