China warns US not to provoke a ‘mishap’ in South China Sea after latest freedom of navigation operation
- Use of littoral combat ship boosts US Navy’s capacity to continue such operations, and may offer a greater attack capability
- US says it is upholding lawful uses of the sea by all nations, countering China’s military build-up in disputed waters
The use of USS Gabrielle Giffords was seen as a way to sustain such operations, alleviating the burden on the usually deployed destroyers and seeking a stronger military deterrent in the South China Sea, military affairs analysts said.
The US’ latest freedom of navigation operation came as China’s first home-grown aircraft carrier, the Type 001A, headed to waters near Hainan island in the South China Sea, for sea trials.
The latest move by the US Navy triggered a rebuke from the Chinese military, with the Southern Theatre Command saying in a statement that its fleet had maintained surveillance of the USS Gabrielle Giffords and destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer, and warned the ships to leave.
“The US has kept sending naval vessels to stir up trouble in the South China Sea under the pretext of freedom of navigation,” the statement said. “We call on the US to stop such provocative acts to avoid the happening of any mishap.”
