Freedom of Navigation Exercises – How Vulnerable are US Ships?

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April 10, 2021

Freedom of Navigation Exercises – How Vulnerable are US Ships?

Video Summary

The US has been sending warships, including a recent voyage through the Taiwan Strait, which separates Taiwan from China. China has repeatedly protested these passages, and the frequency and intensity of their objections are increasing. The Taiwan Strait is not the only waters where this is happening. The US also regularly sends ships through the South China Sea, which China claims as its own territory. The difference now is that China has the capability to respond with its superior naval power, which is a threat to the US ships. The US views these exercises as “freedom of navigation,” but China sees them as a provocation.

The US is not the only country taking this stance. Japan, the UK, and Australia have also sent ships through the South China Sea, and Vietnam and the Philippines have protested Chinese actions in their territorial waters. China has used similar tactics to assert its claims, ramming and sinking boats from neighboring countries. The US has no permanent naval base in the area, making its ships vulnerable to Chinese aggression. Moreover, China is rapidly expanding its naval capabilities, including the construction of artificial islands.

The law of the sea is complex, and the US has not ratified the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. China, on the other hand, has signed and ratified it. The US has a freedom of navigation exercise, but China views it as a threat to its sovereignty. The situation is becoming increasingly complicated, with different countries having disputed claims over island territories. The US and China are engaged in a game of naval one-upmanship, with each side trying to demonstrate its military power and deter the other. This could escalate into a real shooting war if not handled carefully.