China despatches a naval fleet to stop the US in the South China Sea -

Beijing: There are signs of a conflict flaring up between the United States and China anytime in the South China Sea. China has sent a naval fleet to stop the patrolling of the US warships in the marine region. The Chinese military has also warned ‘If the United States intends to avoid any unexpected incidents it should control the patrolling by its warships and aircraft.’ Last month a collision between the US and Chinese warship was avoided by a whisker in this marine region.

The US naval ship, USS Chancellorsville equipped with a missile defence system began its voyage in the South China Sea two days ago. The US Pacific command spokesman announced that the warship patrolled the Paracel islands in the South China Sea. The US command spokesman Nathan Christenson announced ‘This patrolling of the US warship was to challenge the claim of rights, made by China over the Paracel or the Xisha islands.’ China has claimed a right over the entire marine region. Christenson said that therefore, this patrolling was conducted to challenge the Chinese monopoly.

China has despatched a fleet of destroyers and fighter jets to this region. The Chinese defence ministry spokesman warned that China has issued a statement, that the patrolling by the US warships in the South China Sea will not be tolerated by sending the naval fleet. At the same time, Chinese defence ministry spokesman Li Huamin warned ‘US navy should restrict the patrolling by its warships and aircraft. They should especially not enter the Chinese marine limits without permission from China. If the security of the Chinese air or marine limits is threatened the unexpected can happen.’

China is claiming right over the entire marine region of the South China Sea. At the same time, China has already threatened that the United States should not challenge Chinese sovereignty by interfering in this region. But the United States had lashed out that the South China Sea region does not belong to China and patrolling by the US warships is for ensuring the safety of the international marine freight routes.

Meanwhile, China had objected to the passage of the two US warships in the Taiwanese marine region. The Chinese foreign ministry criticised the patrolling by the US warships saying that Taiwan was a part of China.