BEIJING (AP) — A Chinese destroyer came aggressively close to a U.S. Navy ship in the South China Sea, forcing it to maneuver to prevent a collision, the U.S. Pacific Fleet said Tuesday, describing an encounter that could worsen tensions between the nations.
The Chinese warship approached the USS Decatur in an “unsafe and unprofessional maneuver” on Sunday near Gaven Reefs in the South China Sea, said U.S. Pacific Fleet Spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Tim Gorman.
The Chinese destroyer “conducted a series of increasingly aggressive maneuvers accompanied by warnings for Decatur to depart the area,” Gorman said in an emailed statement.
It approached within 45 yards (41 meters) of the Decatur’s bow, forcing it to maneuver, Gorman said.
China claims most of the strategic waterway and has built islands on reefs and equipped them with military facilities such as airstrips, radar domes and missile systems.
The Chinese defense ministry said Tuesday it opposes the U.S. warship’s entry into the waters “around China’s islands and reefs.” It confirmed that the Luoyang, a Chinese missile destroyer, was immediately deployed to identify the U.S. warship and drive it away.
The Chinese foreign ministry said it strongly urged the U.S. to stop its “provocative” actions.
Relations between the U.S. and China have deteriorated over an escalating trade dispute. But ties have worsened in recent weeks with a U.S. decision to issue economic sanctions over the purchase of Russian fighter jets and surface-to-air missile equipment.
Beijing said the U.S. had no right to interfere in Chinese military cooperation with Russia. In response to the sanctions, China summoned the American ambassador and defense attache to deliver a protest, and recalled its navy commander from a U.S. trip.
U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has since dropped plans to visit China in October for talks.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-says-chinese-destroyer-came-dangerously-close-us-041834496.html
“The US sez’….”
All I need to read = lie
NO kidding; so TRUE!
I would have bet on WW3 beginning in the South China sea years ago.
It still amazes me how two ships at sea can collide with the visibility they have, but it happened twice in one year.
“Captain, he’s three miles out. Captain, he’s two miles out. Captain, we hit the son-of-a-bitch.”
How drunk or stupid does the crew have to be for this to occur?
So I guess now the taxpayers are gonna have to put aside some of that loot Israel’s supposed to get in order to teach US Pacific fleet navigators the rules of the (sailing) road…you know, the bigger ship has the right-of-way stuff…In other words, dummies, a Chinese destroyer is likely bigger than a couple of US Navy fleet ships–and what kind of ship, tonnage-wise, is the USS Decatur? Oh, and, BTW, the water you dummies were in is called the South CHINA Sea…but go ahead, just blame Taiwan for this.
“US says Chinese destroyer came dangerously close to US ship”
So!?
Well, if our navy ship was where it ought to be (100 miles from the US mainland…you know, like actually protecting OUR interests), and there was a Chinese ship messing about…THEN I could see where this story would be import.
“But ties have worsened in recent weeks with a U.S. decision to issue economic sanctions over the purchase of Russian fighter jets and surface-to-air missile equipment.”
Surface-to-air missile equipment?
Interesting, considering this…
https://www.rt.com/news/440152-russia-delivers-s300-syria/