US challenges Chinese restrictions by patrolling near the Paracel Islands

Seoul: The United States has initiated steps against China’s aggressive activities in the South China Sea. A US destroyer ship patrolled near the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea. US navy announced that this was done in defiance of the restrictions imposed by China on the concerned marine region. The United States lashed out at China, saying that the international regulations do not allow China to draw a baseline around any maritime area or the islands in the region. Meanwhile, China claimed that its destroyers chased the US destroyers away.

The Seventh Fleet of the US navy announced that its activities in the Indo-Pacific sector would be increased. Accordingly, the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and its fleet of warships have been sent to patrol near the South China Sea. As a part of this mission, the US missile carrier destroyer USS Benfold sailed through the South China Sea region on Wednesday morning. This information was shared by Lieutenant Nicolas Lingo, the spokesman of the US Seventh Fleet.

Lieutenant Lingo clarified that the US destroyer completed this second successive mission remaining within the framework of international regulations. The US navy spokesman said the destroyer patrolled near the Paracel Islands group. Lieutenant Lingo said, ‘As per international regulations, ships and destroyers from all the countries are permitted to sail freely through this region. Any act to impose restrictions unilaterally becomes illegal.’ The US navy spokesman accused China of trying to draw a maritime border around the entire South China Sea region and claiming rights even over the international marine areas. Lieutenant Lingo lashed out that there is no place for such Chinese restrictions in the international regulations. Paracel Islands group is a disputed marine region in the South China Sea. China, along with Vietnam and Taiwan, is claiming rights over this group of 150 big and small islands.

The United States is accusing China of claiming rights over the Paracel or Shisa Island group and militarising these islands. The CIA World Fact Book claims that China has deployed nearly 1,400 soldiers on the island group. Satellite photos of military bases, radar systems and other defence equipment have already been published. China has become restless due to the patrolling by the US destroyer in the region. China accused that the United States itself is a threat to this region.

Meanwhile, only a few hours ago, the United States announced stopping the Chinese aggression in the South China Sea region. The United States has also warned that it will protect the marine interests of the Philippines. Whereas, Wang Yi, Foreign Minister of China, has warned that the Southeast Asian countries should not become a pawn in US politics.