The U.S. Department of Defense released its annual report on U.S. military freedom of navigation operations on Wednesday (March 10, 2021). The report shows that the U.S. military conducts far more freedom of navigation operations to challenge various illegal Chinese maritime and airspace claims than it does against similar illegitimate claims by other countries.
In its annual report to Congress on freedom of navigation operations for fiscal year 2020, the Pentagon said that between Oct. 1, 2019, and Sept. 30, 2020, the U.S. military conducted a total of 28 freedom of navigation operations against excessive maritime claims by 19 countries to demonstrate that the United States disagrees with these excessive claims and takes practical action to prevent these illegitimate claims from gaining acceptance under international law.
The report lists seven excessive maritime and airspace claims by China, including restricting foreign aircraft from entering its established air defense identification zone in the East China Sea, drawing a straight line territorial baseline in the South China Sea, and claiming territorial sea sovereignty around the low-tide plateau in the South China Sea. In contrast, the report lists at most two unlawful claims by other countries.
The report also lists freedom of navigation actions that challenge excessive maritime claims by allies such as Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, including a challenge to Taiwan’s requirement that foreign military or government vessels give prior notice before entering its territorial waters in the South China Sea.
The Pentagon said the U.S. military is impartial and principle-based in conducting freedom of navigation operations, not only against competitors, but also against allies and partner nations, and does not provoke armed conflict.
The Defense Department also said the U.S. invites other nations to conduct freedom of navigation operations to openly and peacefully challenge excessive claims of maritime power. Since the beginning of the year, France, Germany and the United Kingdom have announced that they have sent or are preparing to send warships to patrol the South China Sea to join the United States in maintaining the free flow of international waters.
Beijing has consistently criticized the United States for creating tensions and interfering in regional affairs in the South China Sea under the banner of freedom of navigation, saying China opposes increased military activity by any country in the area.
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