China, U.S. Trade Accusations After Destroyer Passes Shoal
China’s military said it “drove away” the U.S. destroyer USS Higgins after it entered waters near the disputed Scarborough Shoal without Beijing’s consent. Chinese authorities claimed the move violated their sovereignty and risked destabilizing the region.
U.S. Asserts Freedom of Navigation
The U.S. Navy rejected the allegation, stating the USS Higgins was conducting a lawful freedom of navigation operation in accordance with international law. The Seventh Fleet reiterated that American forces operate wherever international rules permit, regardless of Chinese objections.
Mounting Regional Flashpoints
This was the first known U.S. naval operation near Scarborough Shoal in six years and comes shortly after a collision between two Chinese ships during a confrontation with Philippine vessels in the area. The shoal remains a hotspot for overlapping territorial claims and frequent maritime standoffs.
Legal Backdrop
Scarborough Shoal is part of an ongoing maritime dispute in the South China Sea. In 2016, an international tribunal ruled against China’s expansive claims based on its “nine-dash line” map. China has refused to recognize the ruling, while the U.S. uses such operations to challenge what it calls excessive maritime claims and to reinforce adherence to international law.
