US-Chinese Naval Confrontation Raises Stake in South China Sea

A disaster was narrowly averted in the South China Sea after a Chinese warship nearly collided with an American destroyer. The USS Decatur, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, was conducting a “freedom of navigation” patrol when it was approached by a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Luyang-class warship. The encounter took place near the Gaven Reefs area of the  hotly contested Spratly archipelago. US Pacific Fleet Spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Tim Gorman noted that the Chinese ship, “Conducted a series of increasingly aggressive maneuvers accompanied by warnings for Decatur to depart the area”, coming as close as 45 meters, and forcing the Decatur to change course in order to avoid a collision. Chinese Defense Ministry Spokesman Wu Qian characterized the incident as a routine procedure to defend an area they consider to be Chinese territory: “The Chinese vessel took quick action and made checks against the U.S. vessel in accordance with the law, and warned it to leave the waters”.

The contested area, known as the Spratly Islands, is a group of over 100 reefs and small islands off of the coast of Vietnam. Historically unclaimed, rich fishing waters and potential oil and natural gas deposits have turned this area into desirable territory for many Asian countries. China has claimed the whole series of islands, claiming historic rights, but its assertions have been disputed by several other nations including Brunei, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Malaysia. However, a 2016  arbitration panel under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea dealt a major blow to the Chinese claim, ruling in favor of a Filipino appeal which stated that China had no legal basis for occupation of the islands. Despite the Hague’s ruling, China has continued to be quite aggressive in its buildup, establishing air strips, military bases, and missile systems, much to chagrin of the United States and other nations in the region.

This latest incident has increased the tension in an already strained relationship between the United States and China. The ongoing trade war between the nations has raised tensions considerably as is evidenced by Beijing’s reaction to the $200 billion worth of tarrifs placed on Chinese manufactured goods in September. China’s continued military expansion into the South China Sea has the US concerned about Chinese intentions there, especially with regard to its smaller and weaker neighbors, a notion resulting in increased US naval patrols in the area. China has condemned US involvement in the South China Sea as foreign interference in a regional dispute. Indicative of the current situation, China recently cancelled an annual security meeting with Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis.

With US-Chinese relations strained, tensions over the Spratly’s will continue to exacerbate tensions across the entire region. Increased communication and discussion between both nations, and a decrease in provocative actions by the Chinese would be a step in the right direction.