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USS Decatur, class destroyer Arleigh Burke, left, and the Chinese warship PRC 170, right, at what the US Navy described as a dangerous and unprofessional incident in the sea of South China on September 30, 2018. Photo of the US Navy, obtained by gCaptain.
China stepped up its response to the US Navy's freedom of navigation operation this weekend, sending a Luyang-class destroyer on a trajectory close to the collision with the USS Decatur (DDG-73), but the reasoning behind the move is probably more nuanced than the defense of a territory.
No Chinese ship captain would risk this kind of confrontation – within 45 meters of Decatur – without it being said. And it is unlikely that this event will happen without the approval of Chinese President Xi Jinping, said Bonnie Glaser, expert in China, USNI News. Glaser is the Senior Advisor for Asia and Director of the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
"The first thing I was saying is that I am a little puzzled as to why China reacts strongly in some cases and not in others," Glaser said.
She noted that in this particular case, the two terrestrial entities involved in the operation of the Freedom of Navigation (FONOP) near the Gaven Reef are small and are not part of the important bases built by China in the sea from South China. In addition, these features are considered high tide elevations, which the United States does not dispute – which means Decatur would have driven what is called an innocent passage. The Navy did not comment on the incident beyond a limited statement issued Monday, and did not explain what the ship was doing while it was conducting the mission and it was an innocent passage or not.
"All they did was sail through what (China) would consider territorial waters, and yet (the US Navy) had the strongest reaction of all time", said Glaser.
The US Navy routinely conducts such FONOPS in the South China Sea. Subsequently, Chinese government officials generally issue statements expressing varying degrees of outrage at FONOP.
Wu Qian, spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, issued a statement on Tuesday that "the United States has sent warships into the waters near islands and reefs in southern China, posing a serious threat. on China, sovereignty and security have severely damaged relations between the two armies and seriously undermined regional peace and stability, and the Chinese army resolutely opposes such actions. "
Wu's statement described the incident as a Luyang class destroyer "with lawful identification and verification procedures and warning the US ship to leave". He does not mention how far the two ships are getting closer.
The navy said Monday that "the destroyer of the People's Republic of China has conducted a series of increasingly aggressive maneuvers accompanied by warnings intended to Decatur leave the area. The PRC destroyer approached within 45 meters of Decatur bow, after which Decatur maneuvered to avoid a collision. "
The photos obtained by gCaptain show how close the two ships have come.
"The rules of engagement in China are usually defined by the central military commission. Xi Jinping was therefore involved in the approval of this rule of engagement. And to be clear, there is a change in the ER. Before the rules come, you watch the American ship and you do not get too close. If they communicate with you, you answer, "said Glaser. "It seems that these ROEs were thrown out the window."
USS Decatur, class destroyer Arleigh Burke, left, and the Chinese warship PRC 170, right, at what the US Navy described as a dangerous and unprofessional incident in the sea of South China September 30, 2018. After the Chinese ship arrived within 45 Decatur yards, the American destroyer maneuvered to avoid a collision. US Navy photo, obtained by gCaptain.
But why change, especially after this FONOP – which had Decatur less than 12 nautical miles from a relatively unremarkable reef considered to meet the definition of territorial waters?
The reason for China's more aggressive stance probably has more to do with dissatisfaction with other recent interactions with the United States, Glaser said. There is tension around trade tariffs and an arms deal between the United States and Taiwan.
"The only way for me to understand this, is that the Chinese have decided to use this opportunity to send a message to the Trump administration, which is for me a proof that the tensions in one region is spreading into another, "Glaser said.
The Chinese ship did not approach before Decatur Glaser said the Fonop was completing its FONOP and heading for the 12-mile zone around the reef. Decatur it is far from the Chinese ship and is headed towards the sea.
But, if the Chinese ship approached Decatur At the beginning of the FONOP, Glaser said that the whole incident could have unfolded very differently. Decatur The captain should have faced a number of problems, such as the optics of removing the FONOP and giving the impression that the United States is giving way to the Chinese ship. Glaser added that Xi Jinping also did not want to be considered weak.
"It must be seen as defending China's interests and sovereignty, and that's what they were trying to convey with this FONOP," Glaser said. "But the risk of collision is really serious. It's amazing how close these ships are. It's dangerous.
