US Patrol Over South China Sea To Continue, Says Top Commander

Reiterating that the US Navy will never stop its flying patrols over disputed islands in the South China Sea despite China's objections, the Navy’s top commander, Adm Scott Swift, called up China to be more transparent in its actions at the disputed region. Swift is the top commander of the US Pacific Fleet based at Pearl Harbour in Hawaii and looks after the area stretching from the US West Coast to India and from Arctic Circle to Antarctica. He took over as the top commander in May.

Noting that wherever disputed claims exist, the US never takes a position, Swift said what is of importance in the South China Sea is exercising the rights of the United States and other nations' right of conducting operations in international waters. China's claims of sovereignty on South China Sea are challenged by Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan. As a result, maritime tensions have been high in the region, especially after the US supported the five nations to stand up against China's claims.

Aerial Mission

Scott was in Tokyo on a tour of the region, where China is building seven artificial islands in the South China Sea. Lately, China has started questioning the US reconnaissance missions in the region which eventually led to a skirmish with a US naval flight mission overflying the islands.

In May, Chinese military air controllers ordered US pilots to steer clear of “Chinese airspace,” according to the Naval audio. However, the pilots told the Chinese officials that the flight was operating in international airspace and ignored their warnings.

During the Japan visit, Swift took out time for a seven-hour flight above the South China Sea in a P-8 Poseidon aircraft. He said the flight was routine. Later, speaking to reporters, Swift said dealings with Chinese naval forces are in a professional manner, yet China’s uncertain intentions in the region are a matter of concern. “The angst that I sense in the region and that friends share with me comes from the lack of transparency,” Swift said.

Chinese Naval Exercise

Meanwhile, the Chinese navy kicked off a 10-day military exercise in the disputed South China Sea. The drills started on July 22 in the east of Hainan Province. "The drills are regular military exercises scheduled in the annual plan, without targeting any other country,” China’s ministry of national defence said.

“Unlike U.S. military forces that can be trained in wars, Chinese navy strength, which lags behind ground forces, needs to be enhanced via regular drills," according to Maj Gen Xu Guangyu, consultant at the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association. In according with view of Wang Yiwei, the director of the Institute of International Affairs at the Renmin University, the drills will allow the Chinese navy to share international responsibilities along with the US in providing maritime security, since the US has been saying that China is acting like a "free rider" in international issues.

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