US warships abusing freedom of navigation operations: PLA newspaper
Updated: 2016-05-12 16:56
(Xinhua)
|
|||||||||
A formation of the Nanhai Fleet of China's Navy finished a three-day patrol of the Nansha islands in the South China Sea in early May. [Photo/Xinhua] |
BEIJING - The People's Liberation Army Daily has lambasted the United States for sending a warship near Chinese islands, saying in an opinion piece on Thursday that so-called freedom of navigation (FON) operations have flouted the basic spirit of international law.
Though the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) upholds the principle of FON, there is also a balance between such freedoms and individual states' sovereignty, it said, citing some countries' practice of asking for authorization to enter or designating certain sea lanes for passage.
Yet, the United States does not recognize such a balance, deeming it harmful to its maritime supremacy, said the paper. "The United State has not, to this day, ratified UNCLOS and is not willing to see any kind of constraint on its deployment of warships."
The article noted that UNCLOS does not have a universal standard on whether warships can enjoy innocent passage in a country's territorial waters, yet what the United States has been advocating is exactly the freedom to willfully conduct military activities.
The United States likes to boast that it is a force for the greater good of world peace and routinely brings up the issue of FON, yet FON is never an issue in the South China Sea, according to the paper.
On the contrary, such FON operations have disturbed the situation and undermined regional stability, said the paper. "In fact, FON is only a tool for the United States to interfere in regional affairs, shape regional arrangements and defend its maritime supremacy."
The FON that the United States has been pursuing is not in line with what the international community is looking for, because such FON operations only serve the national interests of the United States, it added, warning that such operations can very easily cause miscalculations.
The paper ran the article after a spokesman for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed "resolute opposition" to USS William P. Lawrence's illegal patrol on Tuesday in the South China Sea near Yongshu Jiao in the Nansha Islands.
- Next Philippine leader faces new South China Sea horizon
- China warns US against shows of strength in South China Sea
- Financial Times published a signed article by Ambassador Liu Xiaoming entitled "Who is really behind the tensions in the South China Sea?"
- Stop meddling in the South China Sea
- South China Sea issue
- Illegal fishing targeted in South China Sea
- Ambassador demands stop meddling in South China Sea
- The Times published a signed article by Ambassador Liu Xiaoming entitled "Stop meddling in the South China Sea"
- Overseas help asked for return of suspects
- First Chinese student to speak at Harvard University's commencement
- Officials provide personal touch in legal disputes
- Wenchuan Earthquake eight years later: never forget
- Students' allegations of poisoning dismissed
- Smoking declines after increase in tobacco tax
- First joint EU-China civil exercise begins in Shanghai
- Uncertainty over EU referendum vote impacts UK economy: Think-tank
- Canadian miner sells world's most expensive rough diamond for record $63 million
- German, Cuban FMs hold talks on bilateral cooperation
- Putin prevails in Sochi all-star ice hockey game
- US guided-missile destroyer visits Tonga
- High-tech gadgets shine at CES Asia in Shanghai
- Cannes Film Festival opens amid terror threat
- Supporters of Rousseff clash with police as her removal looms
- Lego opens world's largest store at Shanghai Disney
- Exhibition of table setting art held in Beijing
- Shanghai Disney Resort starts internal test run
- Top 10 events between Shanghai and Beijing auto shows
- CPC creates cartoon to show how officials are selected
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
Anti-graft campaign targets poverty relief |
Cherry blossom signal arrival of spring |
In pictures: Destroying fake and shoddy products |
China's southernmost city to plant 500,000 trees |
Cavers make rare finds in Guangxi expedition |
Cutting hair for Longtaitou Festival |
Today's Top News
Liang avoids jail in shooting death
China's finance minister addresses ratings downgrade
Duke alumni visit Chinese Embassy
Marriott unlikely to top Anbang offer for Starwood: Observers
Chinese biopharma debuts on Nasdaq
What ends Jeb Bush's White House hopes
Investigation for Nicolas's campaign
Will US-ASEAN meeting be good for region?
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |