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rug

(82,333 posts)
Thu May 25, 2017, 07:54 AM May 2017

U.S. war ship nears Chinese island in first navigation challenge under Trump: report



© Getty Images

BY MAX GREENWOOD -
05/24/17 10:58 PM EDT

A United States Navy war ship neared an artificial island built by China in the South China Sea on Wednesday in the first U.S. freedom of navigation operation under the Trump administration, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The maneuver was conducted near Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands, which are the subjects of territorial disputes between China and other countries in the region. The freedom of navigation operation is a signal intended by the U.S. to assert its intention to keep critical sea lanes open, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The patrol on Wednesday came within 12 nautical miles of the island, meaning that it is considered a challenge to China's claim under international law.

The last such operation was conducted under the Obama administration in October.

http://thehill.com/policy/defense/335068-us-war-ship-nears-chinese-island-in-first-navigation-challenge-under-trump
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U.S. war ship nears Chinese island in first navigation challenge under Trump: report (Original Post) rug May 2017 OP
Good. This is an illegal territory grab by China. nt hack89 May 2017 #1
China has no legal claim to the Spartly Islands according to the United Nations Lurks Often May 2017 #2
 

Lurks Often

(5,455 posts)
2. China has no legal claim to the Spartly Islands according to the United Nations
Thu May 25, 2017, 08:36 AM
May 2017

So the creation of man made islands or establishing bases on existing islands is illegal.

Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines_v._China

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