In 2022, for the first time, a U.S. warship conducted a provocative operation in the South China Sea, and the Chinese military severely beat it

Source: Global Times - Global Network

On January 20, the spokesman of the Southern Theater of the People's Liberation Army took the lead in disclosing that on the same day, a US warship had trespassed into China's Xisha territorial waters. On the same day, the spokesman of the Chinese Ministry of National Defense also made a statement on the matter. The Southern Theater and the Ministry of National Defense have successively released information in the form of "talks," making clear the POSITION of the Platon Army, severely cracking down on the provocative actions of the United States, and demanding that the United States immediately stop such provocative acts.

Screenshot of the "Southern Theater" WeChat public account

Senior Colonel Tian Junli, spokesman for the Southern Theater, said in a statement that on 20 January, the US guided-missile destroyer "Benford" illegally broke into China's territorial waters of the Xisha Desert without the approval of the Chinese Government, and Chinese the Southern Theater of the People's Liberation Army organized sea and air forces to follow and monitor and warn them to drive away.

Tian Junli also said, "We solemnly demand that the US side immediately stop such provocative acts, otherwise it will bear the serious consequences of causing unexpected incidents." Theater troops have always maintained a high state of alert and taken resolute action to safeguard national sovereignty and peace and stability in the South China Sea. ”

The US side is still consistent in its rhetoric. The U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs Department claimed in a statement that "China's claims about this mission are untrue." At that time, the Benford was conducting freedom of navigation operations "in accordance with international law", and the warship continued to operate normally in international waters. "The United States is defending every country's right to fly, sail and operate as permitted under international law, as the Benford did this week, and no difference in China's claims can deter us."

On the evening of the same day, Wu Qian, spokesman of the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, also issued a statement expressing strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition to the US act. Wu Qian said that the US action is not at all the "freedom of navigation" it claims, but a serious provocation that violates China's sovereignty and endangers peace and stability in the South China Sea. China's territorial waters do not allow US warships to run amok. The Chinese armed forces will take all necessary measures to deal with all threats and provocations, resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and security, and firmly safeguard regional peace and stability.

The response of the Southern Theater and the Ministry of National Defense to this incident shows that the PLA has severely cracked down on the provocative actions of the US military. Analysts told the Global Times reporter that there are two factors behind this. First of all, the operation of the "Benford" is the first time in 2022 that a US warship has carried out a so-called free navigation operation in the South China Sea, which seriously violates China's sovereignty and security. Coincidentally, on the 20th, the first anniversary of Biden's administration, the actions of the US warship show that neither the past nor the future will give up using "freedom of navigation" to create gimmicks. Secondly, China is about to usher in the Lunar New Year and the Beijing Winter Olympics, and when China is doing happy events, it does not want a country to add to the blockage. The US military often selects Major Chinese Festivals to "accidentally appear" around China and make provocative moves. It can also be seen from the two statements of the Chinese side that China's tough attitude towards the US action is that "China's territorial waters will not tolerate the hegemony of US warships" and "demand that the US side immediately stop such provocative acts, otherwise it will bear the serious consequences of the unexpected incidents caused by this."

Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs College, told the Global Times that during the Biden administration, the activities of US ships, aircraft and submarines were more frequent, and in its next term, the United States will not weaken its military presence in the South China Sea. At the same time, the United States will also try its best to win over countries with disputes with China around the South China Sea to oppose china and control China. "This shows that the construction of the US security architecture in the Asia-Pacific region is based on creating crises and separatist turmoil in the region, so the United States will certainly brush up its presence in the South China Sea through frequent military operations."

Li Haidong believes that the so-called "freedom of navigation" of the United States is a particularly sensitive issue for Western sea powers, and it is also worth paying attention to the fact that the US military is more likely to draw its allies outside the Asia-Pacific region under the guise of "free navigation" to the region. Whether it is the Biden administration or other subsequent governments, the United States will not give up using "freedom of navigation" to create gimmicks, which is also a very important grasp for the United States to let global allies focus on the Asia-Pacific region.