US warships approach the Paracel Islands.

The US announced it is deploying the destroyer USS Hopper to approach the Paracel Islands, which are under Vietnamese sovereignty but illegally occupied by China.

The U.S. Navy announced today that the guided-missile destroyer USS Hopper "exercised freedom of navigation in accordance with international law" near the Paracel Islands, which are under Vietnamese sovereignty but are currently illegally occupied by China.

The announcement came after the Southern Theater Command of the Chinese military declared it had deployed forces to "monitor and驱逐" the USS Hopper as the destroyer approached the Paracel Islands, claiming the US move "creates security risks in the South China Sea."

The USS Hopper sails across the Pacific Ocean on November 9th. Photo: US Navy

The United States regularly conducts freedom of navigation operations (FONOPs) in the South China Sea to challenge China's unreasonable territorial claims. The U.S. Navy opposes China's drawing of so-called "straight baselines" encompassing the entire sea area within the island chains in the South China Sea.

The Paracel Islands have been occupied by force by China since 1974. China established the so-called "Sansha City," headquartered on Phu Lam Island since July 2012, with the aim of seizing control of the islands in the South China Sea, including the Spratly and Paracel Islands, which are under Vietnamese sovereignty.

Vietnam has repeatedly condemned China's illegal activities in the South China Sea. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Vietnam possesses ample historical evidence and legal grounds to assert its sovereignty over the Spratly and Paracel Islands, in accordance with international law. Any activities by other parties in the Spratly and Paracel Islands without Vietnam's permission are invalid.

The South China Sea region. Graphic: CSIS

Duc Trung (According to Reuters )

Source link: https://vnexpress.net/tau-chien-my-ap-sat-hoang-sa-4681446.html