Freedom of navigation

America has once again sent a warship to sail near one of the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea in an obvious challenge to China's claim to almost all of the region's islands and waters. America maintains that it sails in recognized international waters, contrary to China's claims of owning practically the whole ocean. The US is doing this to ensure and assert freedom of navigation in the said region, where trillions of dollars in trade are shipped every year.

The last time a US naval warship sailed near an artificial island created by the Chinese was last October. Beijing has condemned such action, as it is condemning this latest one, calling it a violation of Chinese laws "by entering territorial waters without permission." As with last October, only strong words were uttered by the Chinese without any confrontation. This was not the case in 1974.

A military conflict between Vietnam and China occurred in 1974 over the Paracel Islands. Four Vietnamese ships were damaged, one allegedly sunk, and seventy-four were killed. Four Chinese vessels were damaged in the battle and eighteen died but in the end, China claimed victory and gained control over the whole Paracel Islands. Vietnam still lays claim to it to this day, and is a source of tension between the two countries.

There is a strong call from Congress for President Barack Obama to conduct frequent freedom of navigation patrols in the said region. They claim that America's delayed response has allowed the Chinese to pretty much do what they want in the region, including creating man-made islands, building infrastructure and most recently have started landing planes on the runways that they built.

America does not take sides with any of the claimant countries such as The Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam and Brunei, but wants to assure that navigation is free and safe for all in the region. China's statement where permission is required by any vessel to enter its so-called territorial waters is contrary to freedom of navigation and laws governing international waters. Accepting these terms would be tantamount to accepting China's widespread claims.

There is definitely a need for frequent freedom of navigation patrols in this area, not just by the US but other countries as well. China has to be shown that it cannot just enforce its laws here and there, on the mere basis of an unsubstantiated claim. They should not have been allowed to make man-made islands in the first place, but their economic standing in the world has made many countries look the other way.

I doubt if China will go the way it did in 1974. An armed conflict over this issue is not in their best interest, especially with so many countries calling on it to stop construction and take the disputes to the right forum, just as the country has done. Issuing warnings and threats does nothing to help the situation, as it accuses the US of provoking them.

The issue of the Spratlys and the rest of the islands must be resolved by an international tribunal as soon as possible, which China and the rest of the claimant countries have to comply with, whatever the decision.