US continues Taiwan strait transits amid Pentagon report on China

By Bidisha Saha: The United States Navy carried out Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOP) on Nov 29 close to the Spratly Islands, to say the liberty of navigational rights beneath worldwide legislation and spotlight the rivalry said within the lately launched China Military Power Report 2022. In a uncommon rebuttal, China has accused the seventh fleet cruiser of violating Chinese sovereignty and creating dangers within the South China Sea.

Earlier, the 2022 China Military Power Report by the U.S. Department of Defense(DoD) outlined China’s urge to pursue world domination. It comes at a time when the “emerging superpower” is dealing with a crucial inner problem to its authority boosted by the widespread demonstrations in opposition to the zero-Covid coverage, harsh lockdowns, and the autocratic rule of Xi Jinping. On the identical day, the United Department of Defense (DoD) carried out its FONOP in an try to “uphold freedom of navigation and lawful uses of the sea as a principle.”

Freedom of Navigation Operations

On November 29, the United States Navy conducts Freedom of Navigation Operations(FONOP) within the South China Sea, as USS Chancellorsville(CG 62), a Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser transits close to the Spratly Islands from Taiwan strait, by “asserting navigational rights and freedom under international law”.

Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder stated, “I know there has been some reporting that China essentially ejected our ship from the area. That is not true. Again, we will continue to sail, fly and operate wherever international law allows.”

“At a time when the United States faces challenges from China and an acute threat from Russia, it is essential that the DOD has the authorities needed to defend the nation, deter our adversaries, and support a lethal, resilient and healthy joint force.”

The freedom of navigation operation (“FONOP”) upheld the rights, freedoms, and lawful makes use of of the ocean acknowledged in worldwide legislation by difficult restrictions imposed on “innocent” passage by the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Vietnam, and Taiwan.

China’s Rebuttal

Chinese spokesperson of Southern Theatre Command, Tian Junli stated, “the illegal behavior seriously violated China’s sovereignty and security.”

“The US is a complete risk-maker for the security of the South China Sea” claiming indeniable sovereignty over the South China Sea close to Nansha Islands and adjoining waters. “The Southern Theater Command PLA organized air and naval forces to track, monitor, and warn it off,” he provides. The seventh Fleet Cruiser of the US Navy rejected China’s assertion in regards to the mission and termed it “false”.

UPDATE 1358 native: The PRC’s assertion about this mission is fake. USS Chancellorsville carried out this FONOP in accordance with worldwide legislation after which continued on to conduct regular operations in waters the place excessive seas freedoms apply.

Read extra right here:https://t.co/L6KQIZBdWp
— seventh Fleet (@US7thFleet) November 29, 2022

Hans Kristensen, Director of the Federation of Americal Scientists, noticed, “Big news is China appears to have begun SSBN(a nuclear-powered submarine with ballistic missiles armed with nuclear weapons) patrols at sea with warheads onboard. Report is ambivalent: “is conducting continuous at-sea deterrence patrols” or “likely began near-continuous at-sea deterrence patrols…Still, claiming SSBNs can target continental US seems stretch.”

Big information is China seems to have begun SSBN patrols at sea with warheads onboard. Report is ambivalent: “is conducting continuous at-sea deterrence patrols” or “likely began near-continuous at-sea deterrence patrols…”

Still, declare SSBNs can goal continental US appears stretch.
— Hans Kristensen (@nukestrat) November 29, 2022

China Seeking to Expand Military Presence

Earlier, the China Military Power Report 2022 listed the names of the international locations by which the Pentagon suspected that China is “very likely” to plan for extra army logistics services to help naval, air, and floor forces projection much like the one at Djibouti in East Africa. These international locations embrace Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates, Kenya Equatorial Guinea, Seychelles, Tanzania, Angola, and Tajikistan amongst different locations.

China has progressively asserted its declare of possession over disputed islands within the South China Sea by artificially rising the scale of islands, creating new islands, and constructing ports, army outposts, and airstrips. The South China sea is a vital commerce route and is of serious curiosity as geopolitical tensions stay excessive within the area.

US Spotlight On China

According to the report by DoD, China has tried to degrade the affect of the United States globally all through 2021 by using diplomatic instruments and in addition subverting US-backed safety partnerships reminiscent of QUAD (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue is a strategic safety dialogue between Australia, India, Japan, and the United States) and AUKUS(trilateral safety pact between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States).

Beijing asserts that the United States is the “sole party responsible for escalating US-China relations in order to deflect criticism of the PRC’s effort to reshape the international environment to protect its interests”.

For Example, PRC Foreign Minister Wang Yi claimed on the December 2021 symposium on China’s 2021 international coverage that “multiple challenges suffered by China-U.S relations lie in the strategic misjudgment made by the US side on China and bilateral relations.”

PRC officers have repeatedly condemned the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and cited the withdrawal as proof that the U.S. is an unreliable companion. PRC has additionally framed AUKUS as an act of nuclear growth and a menace to regional stability with an intent to ignite regional issues in regards to the trilateral safety partnership and pressure international locations to restrict engagement with US-backed alliances.

Earlier in a joint assertion in London( EMBED: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jul/06/fbi-mi5-china-spying-cyberattacks-business-economy ), Christopher Wray(FBI director) and Ken McCallum(MI5 director common) raised alarm on China because the “biggest long-term threat” to the financial and nationwide safety of each the nations(America and Britain). Wray went on to accuse the Chinese authorities of “stealing our technology.”

India-China Standoff: US Viewpoint

The United States authorities acknowledged that all through the India-China standoff, Chinese officers “sought to downplay the severity of the crisis, emphasizing Beijing’s intent to preserve border stability and prevent the standoff from harming other areas of its bilateral relationship with India.”

PLA’s Western Theater Command, in accordance with U.S. DoD, is geographically the biggest joint command floor pressure beneath the PRC and is answerable for responding to battle with India and insurgencies in western China. Within China, the Western Theater Command focuses on Xinjiang and Tibet Autonomous areas, the place the CCP(China Communist Party) perceives a excessive menace of separatism and militancy, significantly from the Uyghur populations in Xinjiang.

The CMPR report additional said, “PRC officials have warned U.S. officials to not interfere with the PRC’s relationship with India.”

China Expands Nuclear Warhead Stockpile

In 2021, the PLARF(People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force) launched roughly 135 ballistic missiles for testing and coaching. This was “more than the rest of the world combined”, excluding those operated in battle zones. Pentagon suspects China’s operational nuclear warhead stockpile has exceeded 400 nuclear weapons. And by 2030, DoD estimates that the PRC may have about 1000 operational nuclear warheads, and 1500 by 2035, most of which might be fielded on methods able to ranging the continental United States.

Beijing has declined to have interaction in substantive arms management boards nor has declared any finish purpose or conceded the dimensions of its growth. But China’s nuclear arsenal continues to be a lot smaller as in comparison with the nuclear stock of the United States, which has over 5428 warheads and Russia which has over 5977.

Published On:

Nov 30, 2022