Latest news with #USS Higgins
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
China, US trade barbs over destroyer passage near Scarborough Shoal
BEIJING (Reuters) -The Chinese military said on Wednesday it monitored and "drove away" a U.S. destroyer that sailed near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, while the U.S. Navy said its action was in line with international law. The first known U.S. military operation in at least six years within the shoal's waters came a day after the Philippines accused Chinese vessels of "dangerous manoeuvres and unlawful interference" during a supply mission around the atoll. In a statement, the Chinese military's Southern Theatre Command said the USS Higgins had entered the waters "without approval of the Chinese government" on Wednesday. "The U.S. move seriously violated China's sovereignty and security, severely undermined peace and stability in the South China Sea," it added, vowing to maintain a "high alert at all times". In response, the U.S. Navy's Seventh Fleet said "China's statement about this mission is false", adding that the Higgins had "asserted navigational rights and freedoms" near the Scarborough Shoal "consistent with international law". The operation reflected the U.S. commitment to uphold freedom of navigation and lawful uses of the sea, the Seventh Fleet told Reuters in an emailed statement. "The United States is defending its right to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows, as USS Higgins did here. Nothing China says otherwise will deter us." China claims almost the entire South China Sea, overlapping the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. Unresolved disputes have festered for years over ownership of various islands and features. The U.S. regularly carries out "freedom of navigation" operations in the South China Sea, challenging what it says are curbs on innocent passage imposed by China and other claimants. The Scarborough Shoal has been a major source of tension in what is a strategic conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce. The actions of Chinese vessels in the shoal this week also resulted in a collision of two of them, Manila said, the first such known incident in the area. On Wednesday, the Philippine coast guard said the objective of the two Chinese vessels had been to "completely block" it from getting near Scarborough Shoal. Global Times, a Chinese state media outlet, reported on Wednesday that a Philippine coast guard ship had "conducted highly dangerous manoeuvres on Chinese law enforcement vessels" near the Scarborough Shoal on Monday, citing videos it obtained from an unidentified source. Neither the report nor the video clips published by Global Times showed the collision between Chinese vessels. On Monday, China's coast guard said it had taken "necessary measures" to expel Philippine vessels from the waters. In 2016, an international arbitral tribunal ruled there was no basis in international law for Beijing's claims, based on its historic maps. China does not recognise that decision, however.
Times
7 days ago
- Politics
- Times
China ‘expels' US destroyer after South China Sea stand-off
The Chinese navy has confronted an American destroyer in disputed waters in the South China Sea, the most serious stand-off between the two sides in the area for years. The USS Higgins was sailing with a smaller combat ship, the USS Cincinnati, near the Scarborough Shoal, a group of atolls off the coast of the Philippines where two Chinese warships collided while chasing a Philippine vessel earlier in the week. Beijing claims nearly all of the South China Sea as falling under its sovereignty for historical reasons, something disputed not only by the Philippines but other countries that border it. 'The US move seriously violated China's sovereignty and security, severely undermined peace and stability in the South China Sea,' the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) southern command said. Scarborough Shoal, known as Bajo de Masinloc in the Philippines and Huangyan Dao to the Chinese, is one of a number of regular flashpoints in the region. Clashes have become more common as the PLA attempts to 'break out' of Chinese coastal areas to establish itself as the dominant navy in the western Pacific. Asserting its disputed rights to islands, shoals and open sea is a key part of the strategy, which is fiercely resisted by the Philippines, a close US ally. On Monday, the Philippine coastguard released a video it said showed Chinese vessels chasing and firing water cannon at one of its own ships, which was protecting fishermen in the area. They then collided with each other. China said it took measures 'in accordance with international law' to drive the Philippine ship away, but made no mention of the collision. It insists it will try to block all Philippine naval activity in the area. • US threats to Aukus pact put united front against China at risk The Trump administration has given mixed signals over the strength of its commitment to the protection of allies in the Pacific as China increasingly flexes its muscles, particularly over Taiwan. But the US navy itself has been hawkish about the threat from China, and actively attempts to assert free movement for its own and its allies' warships in the South China Sea. 'The United States is defending its right to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows, as USS Higgins did here,' it said. 'Nothing China says otherwise will deter us.' The PLA claimed to have 'expelled' the Higgins, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, from the area. The incident is the first of its type since 2022, when a PLA warship confronted a similar US destroyer, the USS Benfold, near the Paracels, another disputed island chain, and the first near the Scarborough Shoal for six years. Later on Wednesday, a Chinese fighter jet buzzed a Philippine coastguard plane that was carrying journalists as it conducted a surveillance flight over the shoal. • Trump extends deadline for higher tariffs on China by 90 days Commodore Jay Tarriela, a Philippine coastguard spokesman, said the collision, in which one of the Chinese vessels appeared to be damaged, should be a 'learning experience' for Beijing. 'For so many years, we have been reminding them to stop dangerous manoeuvres, to stop risky blockings, to adhere to the collision regulations because if there is a very high chance of miscalculation, this kind of collision incident would happen,' he said.
Japan Times
13-08-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
China's military says it 'drove away' U.S. destroyer near Scarborough Shoal
China's military said on Wednesday it monitored and "drove away" a U.S. destroyer that sailed near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the strategic busy waterway of the South China Sea. The first known U.S. military operation in at least six years within the shoal's waters came a day after the Philippines accused Chinese vessels of "dangerous maneuvres and unlawful interference" during a supply mission around the atoll. In a statement, the Chinese military's Southern Theatre Command said the USS Higgins had entered the waters "without approval of the Chinese government" on Wednesday. "The U.S. move seriously violated China's sovereignty and security, severely undermined peace and stability in the South China Sea," it added, vowing to keep a "high alert at all times." The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and the U.S. embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to requests for comment. China claims almost the entire South China Sea, despite overlapping claims by Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. The United States regularly carries out "freedom of navigation" operations in the South China Sea, challenging what it says are curbs on passage imposed by China and other claimants. The Scarborough Shoal has been a major source of tension in the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce. The actions of Chinese vessels in the shoal this week also resulted in a collision of two of them, Manila said, the first such known in the area. China's coast guard said it had taken "necessary measures" to expel Philippine vessels from the waters. In 2016, an international arbitral tribunal ruled there was no basis in international law for Beijing's claims, based on its historic maps. China does not recognize that decision, however.
Arab News
13-08-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
China's military says it ‘drove away' US destroyer near Scarborough Shoal
BEIJING: China's military said on Wednesday it monitored and 'drove away' a US destroyer that sailed near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the busy waterway of the South China Sea, while the US Navy said its action was in line with international law. The first known US military operation in at least six years within the shoal's waters came a day after the Philippines accused Chinese vessels of 'dangerous maneuvers and unlawful interference' during a supply mission around the atoll. In a statement, the Chinese military's Southern Theatre Command said the USS Higgins had entered the waters 'without approval of the Chinese government' on Wednesday. 'The US move seriously violated China's sovereignty and security, severely undermined peace and stability in the South China Sea,' it added, vowing to keep a 'high alert at all times.' The US Navy's Seventh Fleet said the Higgins had 'asserted navigational rights and freedoms' near the Scarborough Shoal 'consistent with international law.' The operation reflected the US commitment to uphold freedom of navigation and lawful uses of the sea, it told Reuters in an emailed statement. 'The United States is defending its right to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows, as USS Higgins did here. Nothing China says otherwise will deter us.' China claims almost the entire South China Sea, despite overlapping claims by Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. The US regularly carries out 'freedom of navigation' operations in the South China Sea, challenging what it says are curbs on innocent passage imposed by China and other claimants. The Scarborough Shoal has been a major source of tension in the strategic South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce. The actions of Chinese vessels in the shoal this week also resulted in a collision of two of them, Manila said, the first such known in the area. China's coast guard said it had taken 'necessary measures' to expel Philippine vessels from the waters. In 2016, an international arbitral tribunal ruled there was no basis in international law for Beijing's claims, based on its historic maps. China does not recognize that decision, however.
Reuters
13-08-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
China's military says it 'drove away' US destroyer near Scarborough Shoal
BEIJING, Aug 13 (Reuters) - China's military said on Wednesday it monitored and "drove away" a U.S. destroyer that sailed near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the busy waterway of the South China Sea, while the U.S. Navy said its action was in line with international law. The first known U.S. military operation in at least six years within the shoal's waters came a day after the Philippines accused Chinese vessels of "dangerous manoeuvres and unlawful interference" during a supply mission around the atoll. In a statement, the Chinese military's Southern Theatre Command said the USS Higgins had entered the waters "without approval of the Chinese government" on Wednesday. "The U.S. move seriously violated China's sovereignty and security, severely undermined peace and stability in the South China Sea," it added, vowing to keep a "high alert at all times". The U.S. Navy's Seventh Fleet said the Higgins had "asserted navigational rights and freedoms" near the Scarborough Shoal "consistent with international law". The operation reflected the U.S. commitment to uphold freedom of navigation and lawful uses of the sea, it told Reuters in an emailed statement. "The United States is defending its right to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows, as USS Higgins did here. Nothing China says otherwise will deter us." China claims almost the entire South China Sea, despite overlapping claims by Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. The U.S. regularly carries out "freedom of navigation" operations in the South China Sea, challenging what it says are curbs on innocent passage imposed by China and other claimants. The Scarborough Shoal has been a major source of tension in the strategic South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce. The actions of Chinese vessels in the shoal this week also resulted in a collision of two of them, Manila said, the first such known in the area. China's coast guard said it had taken "necessary measures" to expel Philippine vessels from the waters. In 2016, an international arbitral tribunal ruled there was no basis in international law for Beijing's claims, based on its historic maps. China does not recognise that decision, however.
