Destroyer Conducts South China Sea FONOP Day After Chinese ‘Carrier Killer’ Missile Tests
By: Sam LaGrone
August 27, 2020 6:22 PM
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.
https://news.usni.org/2020/08/27/destroyer-conducts-south-china-sea-fonop-day-after-chinese-carrier-killer-missile-tests
