USS McCampbell Conducts Freedom of Navigation Operation Near Disputed Paracel Islands Amid US-China Trade Talks

U.S. Destroyer Transits Disputed Waters

The USS McCampbell (DDG-85), an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, carried out a 'freedom of navigation' operation (FONOP) on January 7, 2019, sailing within 12 nautical miles of the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea. The U.S. Pacific Fleet stated the operation was conducted to 'challenge excessive maritime claims' and uphold international law, emphasizing it was not intended as a political statement against any single nation.

China's Strong Condemnation

China swiftly condemned the U.S. Navy's action, viewing it as a serious provocation. Lu Kang, spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry, asserted that the USS McCampbell entered China's territorial waters without permission. He stated that China immediately dispatched military vessels and aircraft to 'conduct verification and identification' of the U.S. ship and warned it to leave. Beijing lodged 'stern representations' with the United States, with Lu Kang adding that the operation violated Chinese and international laws, infringed upon China's sovereignty, and undermined regional peace and security. China urged the U.S. to cease such provocations and affirmed its commitment to safeguarding national sovereignty and security.

Operation Coincides with Critical Trade Negotiations

The U.S. Navy's patrol occurred concurrently with the first face-to-face trade negotiations between U.S. and Chinese officials in Beijing since a 90-day truce was declared in their ongoing trade dispute in December 2018. These high-stakes talks aimed to de-escalate trade tensions, which had seen both nations impose tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of goods. The timing of the FONOP highlighted the complex and often strained relationship between Washington and Beijing, even as both sides sought to find common ground on economic issues.

Disputed Sovereignty in the South China Sea

The Paracel Islands are a group of islands, reefs, and banks in the South China Sea, subject to overlapping sovereignty claims by China, Vietnam, and Taiwan. China refers to the Paracels as the Xisha Islands and has established military installations on some features in the archipelago. The U.S. regularly conducts freedom of navigation operations in the region to challenge what it considers excessive maritime claims that are inconsistent with international law, particularly China's assertion of straight baselines around the entire island chain.