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Beijing faces growing challenges to its South China Sea claims
Tensions are rising as major powers ramp up presence in the contested waters to counter China, and observers say rival claimants are caught in the middle
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Beijing is facing heightened challenges to its vast territorial claims over the South China Sea, as major powers continue to send warships and aircraft to the contested waters.
Military operations in the disputed waterway have added to friction between China and the United States, as well as with Britain and Japan, observers say, leaving Southeast Asian nations with claims to the area caught in the middle.
In the latest challenge, US guided-missile destroyer the USS Decatur on Sunday passed through waters off the disputed Spratly Islands, sailing within 12 nautical miles of the Gaven and Johnson reefs during a 10-hour patrol.
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Relations between China and the US are already strained amid an escalating trade war, with the two sides imposing tit-for-tat tariffs on each other’s imports. After the US warship patrol, it was revealed that Beijing had called off security talks planned for October between US Secretary of Defence James Mattis and Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe.
Other countries are also increasing their military presence in the South China Sea. Last week, British frigate the HMS Argyll joined naval drills with Japanese warship the Kaga and destroyer the Inazuma in the Indian Ocean before heading towards the disputed waters. China sent a warship and helicopters to counter the British presence there. A Japanese submarine also made a five-day port call in Vietnam on September 17 as it tries to strengthen ties in the region.
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