TheHateful62
Rookie
- Jan 20, 2016
- 22
- 14
- AFL Club
- Richmond
US navy commander urges Australia to carry out patrols in disputed islands in the South China Sea
By David Wroe
Feb. 23, 2016, 1:15 a.m.
One of the United States' most senior navy commanders has said he would like Australia to carry out naval patrols close to territory claimed by Beijing in the South China Sea - a move that would provoke significant anger within the Chinese government.
US navy commander urges Australia to carry out patrols in disputed islands in the South China Sea
Testing the waters: Vice Admiral Joseph Aucoin. Photo: Nick Moir
Ships of Chinese Coast Guard are seen near the Chinese oil rig Haiyang Shi You 981 in disputed waters in the South China Sea.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop in Beijing last week. Photo: Wu Hong
Satellite images of Woody Island, the largest of the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea. A US official confirmed that China has placed a surface-to-air missile system on Woody Island in the Paracel chain. Photo: ImageSat International
Testing the waters: Vice Admiral Joseph Aucoin. Photo: Nick Moir
Ships of Chinese Coast Guard are seen near the Chinese oil rig Haiyang Shi You 981 in disputed waters in the South China Sea.
Ships of Chinese Coast Guard are seen near the Chinese oil rig Haiyang Shi You 981 in disputed waters in the South China Sea.
Ships of Chinese Coast Guard are seen near the Chinese oil rig Haiyang Shi You 981 in disputed waters in the South China Sea.
Sailing within 12 nautical miles constitutes a challenge to territorial claims as this is the distance sovereignty extends from land into the sea.
Admiral Aucoin's comments go considerably further than any US figure has done before. Admiral Aucoin, who is visiting several cities including Canberra, said he was discussing the South China Sea with Australian counterparts but had "not specifically" discussed patrols within 12 nautical miles.
As commander of the 7th Fleet - the US's largest - Admiral Aucoin is in charge of the two US ships that have so far carried out such patrols.
Admiral Aucoin also vowed that the presence of Chinese missiles on islands would not deter the US from continuing freedom of navigation operations.
He said he was surprised and concerned by the "scale and speed" of China's island-building, which he condemned as "destabilising".
http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/...disputed-islands-in-the-south-china-sea/?cs=8
Is it wise to poke the sleeping dragon? I would of thought not.