October 21, 2016– Шаблон:USS transits near Triton Island and Woody Island in the Paracel Islands.[9] Although this was not within the 12 nautical mile boundaries of each island, it did contest the excessive baseline claims by China.[10]
Файл:China’s Disputed Territories.PNGAlthough the South China Sea disputes have brought the most media attention between 2012 and 2017, China has many excessive claims in contrast to international law.
In 1983, President Ronald Reagan declared that the U.S. would not ratify the 1982 Third United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS III). China signed and ratified UNCLOS III in 1996.[12] Nevertheless, the U.S. Navy- under the Obama administration- has operated in accordance with UNCLOS III with the use of innocent passage, proper communications, and respect for nations' territorial waters.[13]
The Philippines filed the case on 22 January 2013[18] with a strong backing from President Benigno Aquino.[19] Although the Obama administration did not overtly back the Philippines in the case, President Obama and Secretary John Kerry did publicly express support for the right of sovereign nations to follow international law and norms and to dispute disagreements in the legal and appropriate forums, although emphasizing that since the US is not a claimant they are a neutral party.[20] China declared that it did not recognize the jurisdiction of the tribunal prior to proceedings,[21] and requested the Philippines to do the same. Meanwhile, the Obama administration continued to urge all nations to follow international law and abide by the ruling for the remainder of Obama's presidency.
Military exercises with SCS island claimants and the United States
Claimants to the South China Sea island disputes include Brunei, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. Although the US is neutral in the disputes, the American military participates in training exercises with each claimant. During the 2016 Arbitration ruling, the Chinese Navy's CNS Changdao and divers participated in RIMPAC 16. Exercise CARAT and Balikatan are among several annual exercises involving these same nations.
From top left, the guided missile destroyer Шаблон:USS; the Philippine frigates Шаблон:BRP and Шаблон:BRP; and the amphibious dock landing ship Шаблон:USS while in formation during CARAT Philippines 2014.
The Indonesian navy corvette KRI John Lie (358) lines up for a combined gunnery exercise behind the U.S. Navy littoral combat ship Шаблон:USS during the underway phase of CARAT Indonesia 2015.
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