China Accuses U.S. of Being a 'Security Risk Creator' in South China Sea
The U.S. Navy stated that the USS Hopper was on a routine freedom of navigation operation asserting navigational rights but China disagrees saying US' incursion is a security risk
China accused the U.S. of being a "security risk creator" in the South China Sea after its military claimed to have driven away a U.S. warship near the disputed Paracel Islands.
The U.S. Navy stated that the USS Hopper was on a routine freedom of navigation operation asserting navigational rights.
Johan Chairil
US a Security Risk
China claims most of the South China Sea, a major maritime route. The Permanent Court of Arbitration rejected China's claims in 2016. The incident follows joint sea and air patrols by the Philippines and Australia, while the U.S. and China recently held talks on maritime issues.
While China claims almost the entire South China Sea that has a US$3 trillion annual shipping trade, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 said China’s claims had no legal basis. However, there is no way that anyone or the Philippines - that won the case against China - could enforce the Court's decision.
The SCS is also part of the territory for countries like the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei.