US warship fires China tensions

China has accused the US of trying to ‘make trouble’ after it sent a warship through part of the South China Sea.

The guided missile destroyer USS Lassen sailed within 12 naut­ical miles of at least one of the artificial islands created on reefs in the disputed Spratly Islands.

China has accused the US of trying to “make trouble” after Barack Obama sent a warship through an area of the South China Sea that Beijing claims as part of its territorial waters.

The Turnbull government last night strongly backed the US, saying it had to act to ensure freedom of navigation and unimpeded trade through waters that carry about 60 per cent of Australia’s exports.

The US challenge follows months of tensions over China’s creation of artificial islands that US Pacific Fleet commander Harry Harris called its “Great Wall of Sand”.

As guided missile destroyer USS Lassen sailed within 12 naut­ical miles of at least one of the artificial islands created on reefs in the disputed Spratly Islands, ­Defence Minister Marise Payne was quick to back Washington’s determination to exercise its freedom of the oceans and airways.

“It is important to recognise that all states have a right under international law to freedom of navigation and freedom of overflight, including in the South China Sea,” Senator Payne said.

“Australia strongly supports these rights.”

She said the US had publicly declared its policy of conducting freedom of navigation operations globally, consistent with inter­national law.

USS Lassen is understood to have sailed close to reefs called Subi and Mischief in the Spratly archipelago that China calls Nansha. As the so-called “freedom of navigation” exercise took place, the US reportedly had an aircraft carrier taskforce just over the horizon but close enough to intervene if the Lassen ran into trouble.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the US was trying to “make trouble out of nothing” in the South China Sea.

“We are checking out the ­matter,” Mr Wang said.

“If it is true, we advise the US to think twice before its action,” he said, urging the US “not to act in an imprudent way and not to make trouble out of nothing”.

Senior US and Australian sources have strongly rejected suggestions the US move was provocative or risky.

They told The Australian that facilities on the islands, including aircraft runways, would have scant civil application and could be useful only in projecting military power far out into areas of ocean China claims.

“The provocation has all come from China in building these ­islands,” one official said.

Several US defence officials said the freedom of navigation ­exercise was not a one-time operation, and that the US Navy would continue to sail through waters claimed by Beijing. The US plan was discussed with Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, Senator Payne and senior Australian officials during the recent AUSMIN talks in Boston. Australia was not asked to join the patrol through the disputed 12-mile zone around the new islands. But Australia does regularly send warships and long-range patrol aircraft through the South China Sea.

Senator Payne said Australia had a legitimate interest in the maintenance of peace and stab­ility, respect for international law, unimpeded trade and freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea. “Australia continues to co-operate closely with the United States and other ­regional partners on maritime ­security,” she said.

US Defence officials have ­confirmed that the Lassen passed within 12 nautical miles of the artificial islands. China has claimed that under international law, its territorial waters extend 12 nautical miles from the shorelines of the China Sea structures.

The US and others, including Australia, argue that the 12-mile rule does not apply to the new ­islands, which China created by pumping thousands of tonnes of sand and then concrete on to reefs that previously had been submerged for part of each day.

Beijing insists the reclaimed land will be used only for civil purposes. Satellite images of the new islands show significant facilities that could be used for military purposes including three runways up to 3000m long.

The US official insisted the naval exercise was not directed at any specific country. Nations that have claims in the South China Sea include Brunei, Malaysia, The Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan.

The commander of US forces in the Pacific, Admiral Harris, ­indicated this week that he had told Mr Obama the US must carry out freedom of navigation patrols throughout the Asia-Pacific.

Mr Wang responded coolly. “If true, we advise the American side to think twice before acting, to not act rashly and to not make trouble out of nothing,” he said.

In May, Defence Department secretary, veteran diplomat and former ASIO chief Dennis Richardson said he was concerned about the unprecedented pace and scale of China’s land-reclamation activities. He said that with more than half of its merchandise trade passing through the South China Sea, Australia had an interest in safe, stable maritime routes, and freedom of navigation and overflight.