China claims to have chased away US warship from South China Sea; US denies claim

Beijing/Washington: – China claims to have driven away a US warship patrolling near the Paracel Islands. The People’s Liberation Army said in its statements that the US warship USS Benfold had entered the Paracel Islands region without permission from China. The Seventh Fleet of the US Navy has dismissed the claim and clarified that this patrolling was a part of the Freedom of Navigation campaign.

USS Benfold, a US warship that is a part of the seventh fleet of the US Navy, patrolled the Paracel Island region. The United States clarified that this patrolling was in accordance with the rights and freedom of marine movement. The United States warned that the patrolling was within the framework of international regulations and the Chinese claims of violation of sovereignty are false. But the Chinese People’s Liberation Army claimed to have chased away the US warship from the Paracel Islands region. At the same time, China issued a warning that the United States should stop these inciting activities.

The United States adopting a stern stand on the issue of patrolling by the US warship has indicated a more aggressive stand regarding the South China Sea. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has issued a stern warning to China over the Philippines issue. Five years ago, the international arbitrator had given a verdict in favour of the Philippines, dismissing all the claims made by China regarding the South China Sea. The US Secretary of State reminded of that verdict. The Filipino victory is an important development in respect to the South China Sea. Blinken warned that the United States will always stand with its allies and partners to secure the rights and freedom of the marine region.

The US Secretary of State also mentioned the defence agreement signed between the United States and the Philippines in 1951. Secretary of State Blinken warned that if China attacked the Filipino military, civilian ships or aeroplanes, the United States would take responsibility for the security of the Philippines. Blinken reiterated the South China Sea policy announced by the US administration in the last year.

Former US President Donald Trump had adopted a firm stand in the policy declared in 2020 that the United States would not accept any claims made by China regarding the South China Sea. At the same time, he had also clarified that the United States is committed to the free and open Indo-Pacific sector. Blinken said that even the Biden administration is firm on the same stand.