US patrols challenging Beijing in South China Sea will continue, says US Navy commander
Freedom of navigation operations in the disputed waters still ongoing, says US Navy commander
The United States’ naval patrols in the South China Sea will continue as part of Washington’s aim to challenge “excessive maritime claims” in the disputed waters, the US Navy commander says.
“US forces operate in the Asia-Pacific region on a daily basis, including in the South China Sea”, US Navy Commander Gary Ross said in an emailed response to questions about whether US “freedom of navigation” operations – also known as “FONOPs” – in the area have been halted.
“We are continuing with regular FONOPs, as we have routinely done in the past and will continue to do in the future,” Ross said, adding that the patrols are “not about any one country”.
He made no mention of China’s claims in the disputed region.
Speculation that US President Donald Trump’s administration wants to scale back FONOPs that might anger Beijing as a bargaining chip to support other priorities in the region followed a New York Times report that the Pentagon had turned down US Pacific Command requests to sail warships near islands claimed by China in the South China Sea.
