Destroyer Conducts South China Sea FONOP Day After Chinese ‘Carrier Killer’ Missile Tests

August 27, 2020 6:22 PM
USS Mustin (DDG-89) transits the Taiwan Strait on Aug. 18, 2020. US Navy Photo

A guided-missile destroyer conducted a freedom of navigation operation in the South China Sea past the Paracel Island chain on Thursday, one day after China launched missile tests in the South China Sea, U.S. 7th Fleet announced on Thursday.

USS Mustin (DDG-89) operated past the islands that are claimed by China, Vietnam and Taiwan.

“This freedom of navigation upheld the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the sea recognized in international law by challenging the unlawful restrictions on innocent passage imposed by China, Taiwan and Vietnam and also by challenging China’s claim to straight baselines enclosing the Paracel Islands,” Cmdr. Reann Mommsen told USNI News.

China has several installations on the island chain off the coast of Vietnam and claims a zone around the chain that requires a warship seek permission to enter.

“All three claimants require either permission or advance notification before a military vessel
or warship engages in ‘innocent passage’ through the territorial sea,” read a statement from the Navy.
“The unilateral imposition of any authorization or advance-notification requirement for innocent passage is not permitted by international law. By engaging in innocent passage without giving prior notification to or asking permission from any of the claimants, the United States challenged the unlawful restrictions imposed by China, Taiwan and Vietnam.”

The FONOP comes a day after the Chinese People’s Liberation Army reportedly fired two so-called Dong Feng “carrier killer” anti-ship ballistic missiles into the South China Sea.

“One of the missiles, a DF-26B, was launched from the northwestern province of Qinghai, while the other, a DF-21D, lifted off from Zhejiang province in the east,” according to a report in the South China Morning Post citing a source in the PLA.
“Both were fired into an area between Hainan province and the Paracel Islands.”

The family of anti-ship missiles is a key concern of Pentagon military planners who worry the missiles with a range of about 2,500 miles put major U.S. capital ships at risk in a ring around China.

Chinese DF-26 missiles on display during a military parade in Tiananmen Square. Photo via globalsecurity.org

The Chinese test comes a day after Beijing complained a flight of a U.S. Air Force U-2 reconnaissance plane violated protective airspace around a PLA exercise.

“The trespass severely affected China’s normal exercises and training activities and violated the rules of behavior for air and maritime safety between China and the United States, as well as relevant international practices,” Wu Qian, a spokesperson for the Chinese Defense Ministry, said in a statement.
“The U.S. action could easily have resulted in misjudgments and even accidents.”

U.S. Pacific Air Forces confirmed the U-2 operation but said the aircraft was operating within the bounds of international law.

Earlier this month, Mustin had made a transit of the Taiwan Strait shortly after drilling with Japanese warships in the East China Sea.

Sam LaGrone

Sam LaGrone

Sam LaGrone is the editor of USNI News. He has covered legislation, acquisition and operations for the Sea Services since 2009 and spent time underway with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the Canadian Navy.
Follow @samlagrone

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