Freedom of navigation operation

Report to Congress on South China Sea Disputes

The following is the Aug. 21, 2023, Congressional Research Service report, China Primer: South China Sea Disputes.

From the report

Multiple Asian governments assert sovereignty over rocks, reefs, and other geographic features in the heavily trafficked South China Sea (SCS), with the People’s Republic of China (PRC or China) arguably making the most assertive claims. The United States makes no territorial claim in the SCS and takes no position on sovereignty over any of the geographic features in...

https://news.usni.org/2023/08/22/report-to-congress-on-south-china-sea-disputes

CNO Gilday: Expanding Military Cooperation Between South Korea, Japan ‘A Necessity’

Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Mike Gilday delivers testimony at the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the fiscal year 2023 defense budget request on May 12, 2022. US Navy Photo

The Navy’s top officer stressed the need for “a forward-looking relationship” between Japan, South Korea and the United States. “It’s no longer a luxury but a necessity” that the three nations work together, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday said Thursday.

Examples of the improved trilateral...

https://news.usni.org/2023/01/13/cno-gilday-expanding-military-cooperation-between-south-korea-japan-a-necessity

USS Chancellorsville Performs South China Sea FONOP, Draws Chinese Protests

Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG-62) conducts routine underway operations in the South China Sea, Nov. 29, 2022. US Navy Photo

The Tuesday passage of a U.S. guided missile cruiser past a disputed island chain in the South China Sea has drawn protests from Beijing and claims that the People’s Liberation Army expelled the ship from Chinese territorial waters.

According to U.S. 7th Fleet, USS Chancellorsville (CG-62) sailed past the Spratly Island chain on Tuesday as...

https://news.usni.org/2022/11/29/uss-chancellorsville-performs-south-china-sea-fonop-draws-chinese-protests

U.S. Destroyer Performs South China Sea FONOP; China Says it Expelled Warship

USS Benfold (DDG-65) sailing past the Paracel Islands on July 13, 2022. PLA Photo

A U.S. guided-missile destroyer passed near a South China Sea island chain claimed by China as part of a Freedom of Navigation operation and drew complaints from Beijing.

USS Benfold (DDG-65) sailed near the Paracel Islands early Wednesday local time in a FONOP and was monitored by the People’s Liberation Army Navy frigate Xianning (500), according to the Chinese Ministry of Defense.

“This freedom of navigation...

https://news.usni.org/2022/07/13/u-s-destroyer-performs-south-china-sea-fonop-china-says-it-expelled-warship

U.S. Navy Denies Chinese Claims of Expelling Destroyer From Waters Near Paracel Islands

Ens. Hazel Acosta, assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey (DDG 105), observes the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65), while standing conning officer during Visual Information (VI) drills between the two ships, Jan. 12, 2022. U.S. Navy Photo

The U.S. Navy on Thursday denied a Chinese claim that the People’s Liberation Army Navy chased an American destroyer away from islands in the South China Sea.
USS Benfold (DDG-65) performed a...

https://news.usni.org/2022/01/20/navy-denies-chinese-claims-of-expelling-u-s-destroyer-from-territorial-waters-near-paracel-islands

Destroyer Performs FONOP, U.S. Navy Disputes Chinese Claim That It Ousted Warship

USS Benfold (DDG-65) as the ship transits the South China Sea conducting routine underway operations on Sept. 8, 2021. US Navy Photo

The U.S. Navy is disputing a claim from China that it chased an American warship out of the South China Sea after the U.S. vessel performed a freedom of navigation exercise.

USS Benfold (DDG-65) on Wednesday sailed near the Spratly Islands – which China has staked a claim to – according to a news release from U.S. 7th Fleet.

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) quickly...

https://news.usni.org/2021/09/08/destroyer-performs-fonop-u-s-navy-disputes-chinese-claim-that-it-ousted-warship

Destroyer USS Russell Performs South China Sea FONOP

The guided-missile destroyer USS Russell (DDG 59) conducts routine underway operations. Russell is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. U.S. Navy Photo

A U.S. guided-missile destroyer performed a freedom of navigation operation in the South China Sea on Wednesday, U.S. 7th Fleet announced.

Destroyer USS Russell (DDG-59) sailed near the Spratly Islands, 7th Fleet said in a news release.

“This freedom of navigation operation (‘FONOP’)...

https://news.usni.org/2021/02/17/destroyer-uss-russell-performs-south-china-sea-fonop

Destroyer USS John S. McCain Performs South China Sea FONOP

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) transits through Peter the Great Bay while conducting routine underway operations on Nov. 24, 2020. U.S. Navy Photo

A U.S. guided-missile destroyer performed a freedom of navigation operation in the South China Sea on Tuesday, the Navy announced.

USS John S. McCain (DDG-56) operated near the Spratly Islands, which Taiwan, China and Vietnam have all staked a claim to, U.S. 7th Fleet said in a news release.

“Unlawful and...

https://news.usni.org/2020/12/22/destroyer-uss-john-s-mccain-performs-south-china-sea-fonop

Destroyer USS Pinckney Pulls into San Diego After Extended Deployment

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney (DDG 91) returns to its homeport of Naval Base San Diego following the successful completion of a nine-month deployment. While deployed, Pinckney spent time in the U.S. 4th and 7th Fleet areas of operation. U.S. Navy Photo

Destroyer USS Pinckney (DDG-91) pulled into the San Diego harbor on Monday after an extended deployment that lasted nearly nine months, the Navy announced.

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer first...

ASEAN, China Still Negotiating to Keep Law Enforcement Disputes From Becoming Naval Conflicts

USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS-10) conducts routine operations near the Panamanian flagged drill ship, West Capella on May 12, 2020. US Navy Photo

Indonesia and Malaysia increasingly depend on their coast guards to assert maritime sovereignty, but these forces don’t have agreed-upon regional rules of behavior to keep clashes with China over fisheries and energy exploration from escalating into crises, three South China Sea experts said Monday.

Yet despite the “front-line role” coast guards play in...

https://news.usni.org/2020/09/15/asean-china-still-negotiating-to-keep-law-enforcement-disputes-from-becoming-naval-conflicts

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