Two American warships defied China's claims to control most of the South China Sea:
Two U.S. guided-missile destroyers on Monday sailed near the Chinese manmade island of Mischief Reef in the South China Sea, the location of several territorial conflicts that have raised tensions in the region.
What is lacking is any description of the warship activities that would make this a true FONOP rather than an "innocent passage" where our ships can meekly travel through the territorial waters of another state by the quickest route.
Did either of the ships maneuver, operate weapon systems, or use sensors (in training, of course)? That is, did either of the warships carry out operations typical of an operating combat vessel while within the 12-mile limit? That is what makes it a FONOP. I will say that we seem to be doing actual FONOPS unlike the situation in the prior administration.
Remember too that as a man-made island, we are only required under international law to stay a very small distance away (500 yards, or so?) from the Chinese sea feature for navigational safety purposes.
Still, I'm glad the mission wasn't a solitary ship. I hope there was aerial overwatch, too.
And let's hope that the tip tier 7th Fleet isn't in the same shape as Fitzgerald showed it was in 2017. (Tip to Instapundit, and do read it all. Jesus Christ, that was horrifying. I sure pray our potential enemies have more problems than we have.) Thinking you have a navy when you really don't have anything but fancy hardware is worse than having no navy.
Don't believe victory is our birthright.
Or do we want Chinese naval commanders to believe that ships like Preble and Spruance are paper tigers that can be forcefully challenged with little risk to China? Remember, Fitzgerald was on the way to conduct a FONOP when it collided with a merchant ship.
Because we thought we had a warship sailing into harm's way that June 2017 night. The crew had the reserves of strength to fight the ship and save it. Could they have fought another navy's warships and won?
