October 21, 2016– USS Decatur (DDG-73) transits near Triton Island and Woody Island in the Paracel Islands.[9] Although this was not within the 12 nautical mile boundaries of each island, it did contest the excessive baseline claims by China.[10]
Although the South China Sea disputes have brought the most media attention between 2012 and 2017, China has many excessive claims in contrast to international law.
In 1983, President Ronald Reagan declared that the U.S. would not ratify the 1982 Third United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS III). China signed and ratified UNCLOS III in 1996.[12] Nevertheless, the U.S. Navy- under the Obama administration- has operated in accordance with UNCLOS III with the use of innocent passage, proper communications, and respect for nations' territorial waters.[13]
Throughout Obama's presidency, the US Navy's Seventh Fleet routinely patrolled the Indo-Asia-Pacific to maintain the freedom of seas
The Philippines filed the case on 22 January 2013[18] with a strong backing from President Benigno Aquino.[19] Although the Obama administration did not overtly back the Philippines in the case, President Obama and Secretary John Kerry did publicly express support for the right of sovereign nations to follow international law and norms and to dispute disagreements in the legal and appropriate forums, although emphasizing that since the US is not a claimant they are a neutral party.[20] China declared that it did not recognize the jurisdiction of the tribunal prior to proceedings,[21] and requested the Philippines to do the same. Meanwhile, the Obama administration continued to urge all nations to follow international law and abide by the ruling for the remainder of Obama's presidency.
Military exercises with SCS island claimants and the United States
Claimants to the South China Sea island disputes include Brunei, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. Although the US is neutral in the disputes, the American military participates in training exercises with each claimant. During the 2016 Arbitration ruling, the Chinese Navy's CNS Changdao and divers participated in RIMPAC 16. Exercise CARAT and Balikatan are among several annual exercises involving these same nations.
The Indonesian navy corvette KRI John Lie (358) lines up for a combined gunnery exercise behind the U.S. Navy littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth during the underway phase of CARAT Indonesia 2015.
USNS Salvor operates with the CNS Changdao in a submarine rescue and dive/salvage exercise during Exercise RIMPAC 16.
^U.S. Department of State, Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (December 5, 2014). "China- Maritime Claims in the South China Sea"(PDF). Limits in the Seas. 143: 26. Archived(PDF) from the original on February 20, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2019 – via U.S. Department of State.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Xue, Guifang. "China and the Law of the Sea: An Update". International Law Studies- International Law and Military Operations. 84: 97–110. Archived from the original on June 27, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2017 – via US Naval War College.
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From top left, the guided missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG-56); the Philippine frigates BRP Gregorio del Pilar (FF-15) and BRP Ramon Alcaraz (FF-16); and the amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD-48) while in formation during CARAT Philippines 2014.
The Indonesian navy corvette KRI John Lie (358) lines up for a combined gunnery exercise behind the U.S. Navy littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth during the underway phase of CARAT Indonesia 2015.
USNS Salvor operates with the CNS Changdao in a submarine rescue and dive/salvage exercise during Exercise RIMPAC 16.;_the_Philippine_frigates_BRP_Gregorio_del_Pilar_(PF_15)_and_BRP_Ramon_Alcaraz_(PF_16);_and_the_amphibious_dock_landing_ship_USS_Ashland_140628-N-YU572-432.jpg)
_at_sea_in_August_2015.JPG)
