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The guided missile destroyer USS Decatur operates in the South China Sea in October 2016. (Class Master Diana Qui / AFP / Getty Images)
BEIJING – China accused the United States of ignoring its sovereignty on Tuesday after a US warship flew over the islands claimed by Beijing in the disputed southern China Sea, resulting in a new crisis in relations between both countries after weeks of escalating military tensions.
A Chinese destroyer arrived Sunday just meters from the American ship, forcing him to change course in what American officials have called "dangerous and unprofessional confrontation".
The Chinese Ministry of Defense countered that the USS Decatur should never have crossed these waters as part of its "freedom of navigation" mission, which prompted Beijing to order a warship of Luyang to move it away from the Spratly Islands.
"The Chinese ship acted swiftly and carried out checks against the US vessel in accordance with the law and warned it to leave the waters," spokesman Wu Qian said in a statement.
The presence of US ships near the Chinese-backed archipelago off the Philippines, Malaysia and southern Vietnam "seriously threatens China's sovereignty and security" and "seriously undermines the relationship between the two." country and both armies, "Wu added.
A statement Monday from the US Pacific Fleet called the Chinese reaction aggressive.
"The PRC destroyer approached within 45 meters of Decatur's bow, after which Decatur maneuvered to avoid a collision," said spokesman Charlie Brown.
The Decatur was leading what the US military calls freedom of navigation operations or missions to promote international legality on the ocean territory claimed by several countries, including Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines.
Washington said it was intended to reject what it considers to be excessive maritime claims on the part of a country.
Decatur ventured Sunday morning in front of reefs and rocks that Beijing attempted to turn into artificial islands to extend its grip on the South China Sea, but US officials have claimed that these lands do not count as real territories, said Lawrence Brennan, a law professor. at Fordham University in New York.
American and Chinese warships have had close encounters in the past, he added, but Sunday's meeting "seems to have been closer than any other recent event."
The sea confrontation took place about a week after the Chinese authorities canceled the military talks with the United States scheduled for Beijing in late September.
The government ended defense talks in response to US sanctions imposed last month on Chinese soldiers for buying Russian fighter jets and missile supplies.
Next, Beijing announced Monday a meeting with Defense Secretary Jim Mattis scheduled for October, the New York Times reported.
The White House and the State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The military tension between the two largest economies in the world is worsening as these countries are plunged into an increasingly fierce trade war.
Washington and Beijing clashed with the biggest wave of tariffs ever recorded last week, now covering about half of their traded goods.
President Trump has ordered new taxes on Chinese imports for $ 200 billion. Beijing reacted by applying tariffs on US products for $ 60 billion, which was about to run out of US products.
Neither side has shown signs of abandonment and there are more scheduled commercial negotiations to end the trade battle.
Trump warned in September that if Chinese President Xi Jinping refused to give in, he would release an additional $ 267 billion in tariffs on Chinese imports, raising border taxes on virtually everything the United States is buying. to China.
Last year this order was $ 505 billion.
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