Chief of US Naval Operations Admiral John Richardson warned the United States and China ‘will meet each other more and more on the high seas” after a Chinese warship came close to a US vessel in the hotly disputed waters.
The Chinese vessel came within an eye-watering 45 metres of the USS Decatur during a “freedom of navigation” sail, US Vice President Mike Pence said.
The US mission was the latest attempt to counter what Washington sees as Beijing’s efforts to limit freedom of navigation in the strategic waters, where Chinese, Japanese and some Southeast Asian navies operate.
Admiral Richardson said China’s relationship with the Russian navy should be watched “with interest” as it grows.
China claims most of the energy-rich South China Sea, through which about $3 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year.
Neighbours Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims.
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