Thursday, September 6, 2018

China escorts British assault ship on ‘freedom of navigation’ voyage through South China Sea

China escorts British assault ship on ‘freedom of navigation’ voyage through South China Sea


China, which has been building military infrastructure on the Parcel and the Spratly chain of islands to protect its territorial claims, quickly dispatched two choppers and a frigate to intercept and escort the British ship, another source said. During the encounter, however, both sides reportedly remained “calm.”
Without directly confirming the incident, the Royal Navy noted that “HMS Albion exercised her rights for freedom of navigation in full compliance with international law and norms.”
Beijing has confirmed the encounter, claiming that the British warship “violated” its territorial waters on August 31. “The Chinese side strongly urges the British side to immediately stop such kinds of provocative actions,” China’s Foreign Ministry told Reuters on Thursday. In the past, China has repeatedly condemned foreign “intrusions” into its backyard under any excuse, repeatedly vowing to protect its “historic” waters and interests in the South China Sea, through which $3 trillion of trade passes each year.

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