News| US Destroyer Challenges Chinese Military Base – China Intercepts With Missile Frigates
CNN
Mischief Reef.
The South China Sea is a very hostile place at the moment, in particular, a reef known as the Spratley Islands. The Chinese have overtaken these islands which are claimed by the Philipines and built a military base there.
Supremacy of the Spratley Islands gives China territorial control over shipping routes, oil reserves and other natural resources in the area. The bigger concern is that the Chinese Military is expanding the island to build air bases and install weapons despite claims that they wouldn’t. In a show of force, the USS Dewey has approached a disputed island territory and China isn’t happy about it.
“We firmly oppose the U.S. behavior of showing force and boosting militarization.”
– Ren Guoquiang (Defense Ministry Spokesman)
The Guided Missile Destroyer came within 12 nautical miles of the base embracing their “freedom of navigation operation.” The Destroyer has done nothing wrong by cruising near Mischief Reef but the Chinese sent missile frigates to intercept the vessel. Things are heading up in the South China Sea and their hostility towards the USS Dewey isn’t helping. CNN provides further details on the confrontation in this clip.
