The United States has deployed warships and aircraft for decades to patrol and promote freedom of navigation, as it has no claims itself to the waters
The Trump-era rejection of China’s maritime claims in the South China Sea has been upheld by the Biden administration, that also warned China that under a mutual defense treaty, any attack on the Philippines in the flashpoint region would draw a U.S. response.
Even though China later rejected the ruling, it is noteworthy that the statement was released by Secretary of State Antony Blinken ahead of this week’s fifth anniversary of an international tribunal’s ruling in favour of the Philippines, against China’s maritime claims around the Spratly Islands and neighbouring reefs and shoals.
China is likely to be peeved by the Biden administration’s decision to retain and reinforce Trump administration’s announcement and reacted angrily
Trump administration came out in favour of the ruling ahead of the fourth anniversary of the ruling last year. US has sided with the Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam, all of which oppose Chinese assertions of sovereignty over maritime areas. However, otherwise, the U.S. tries to remain neutral in territorial disputes, surrounding contested South China Sea islands, reefs and shoals.
China is likely to be peeved by the Biden administration’s decision to retain and reinforce Trump administration’s announcement and reacted angrily.
By building military bases on coral atolls, leading the U.S. to sail its warships through the region China has sought to shore up its claims to the sea. It calls it freedom of operation missions. The United States has deployed warships and aircraft for decades to patrol and promote freedom of navigation, as it has no claims itself to the waters.
