Dramatic photos have emerged of a confrontation we reported on Monday between the USS Decatur and the Chinese destroyer Luyang, which came within 45 yards of each other in the South China Sea. The photos of the two warships, obtained by gCaptain, reveal the “unsafe and unprofessional maneuver” that almost resulted in a collision “in the vicinity” of the Graven Reef in the Spratley Islands on Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m..
According to a Navy spokesman, during the incident, the Chinese warship “approached within 45 yards of Decatur’s bow, after which Decatur maneuvered to prevent a collision.”
As was reported over the weekend, the USS Decatur on Sunday conducted the U.S. Navy’s latest freedom of navigation operation in the South China Sea, coming within 12 nautical miles of the Gaven and Johnson Reefs claimed by China. –gCaptain
On Tuesday, China accused the US of violating its “indisputable sovereignty” over the Spratley islands, saying in a statement “We strongly urge the U.S. side to immediately correct its mistake and stop such provocative actions to avoid undermining China-U.S. relations and regional peace and stability.”
It is unclear how the photos were obtained, however they were deemed to be legitimate according to Stars and Stripes, citing a US Navy official.
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The encounter, which comes at a time of strained relations between the world’s two largest economies driven largely by Trump’s aggressive trade policy, was characterized as “unsafe and unprofessional” by Navy officials.
“At approximately 0830 local time on September 30, a PRC LUYANG destroyer approached USS DECATUR in an unsafe and unprofessional maneuver in the vicinity of Gaven Reef in the South China Sea,” said Capt. Charlie Brown, a U.S. Pacific Fleet Spokesman.
Gaven Reef is located in the Spratly Islands chain in the South China Sea where China claims seven man-made islands as its own.
The close encounter with the Chinese warship occurred as the American destroyer was carrying out a freedom of navigation operation (FONOPs) in the Spratlys, the U.S. said.
The U.S. Navy routinely undertakes FONOP missions worldwide to challenge excessive territorial claims of international shipping lanes.
USS Decatur had sailed within 12 nautical miles of Gaven and Johnson Reefs in the Spratly Islands when it was approached by the Chinese destroyer.
During the brief encounter, the Chinese destroyer’s aggressive maneuvers were accompanied by demands that the Decatur leave the area.
The Chinese Navy “destroyer conducted a series of increasingly aggressive maneuvers accompanied by warnings for DECATUR to depart the area,” Brown added.
“The PRC destroyer approached within 45 yards of DECATUR’s bow, after which DECATUR maneuvered to prevent a collision,” said Brown.
A U.S. defense official characterized the close encounter as having been of short duration.
Chinese vessels have approached U.S. Navy ships during previous FONOPs in the South China Sea, but Sunday’s encounter appears to the be the closest one yet.
“U.S. Navy ships and aircraft operate throughout the Indo-Pacific routinely, including in the South China Sea,” said Brown. “As we have for decades, our forces will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows.”
Earlier Monday, reports surfaced that China had called off a security conference with US officials. The cancellation was later confirmed by the US. This latest sign of a deteriorating relationship came after the US Air Force flew a B-52 bomber on a mission through the East China Sea while two other B-52 flights were carried out through the South China Sea.
While the notion of a shooting war between the US and China may seem remote to casual observers, some market observers have noted the time honored progression of economic tensions like trade wars and currency wars eventually leading to a full-on hot war.
ABW – Asian Behind the Wheel.
Unsafe at any speed.
Especially with chicks behind the wheel.
Americans beg for their chains.
The elites tell Americans that they don’t need freedom and Americans nod their heads and say that they don’t need freedom.
Americans say libtards hate Supreme Court nominees suspected of sexual harassment so judges must be approved even if they hate the Constitution.
Americans say China exports cheap products so instead of boycotting imports, Americans scream that they need tariffs that will fund US wars, debt, and tyranny, raise prices, and kill jobs.
Americans say illegal immigrants exist so rather than refusing to hire illegal aliens or move away from them, Americans scream that they need a wall that will be used to keep Americans IN instead of keeping illegal immigrants out.
Americans say the minimum wage must be raised by decree instead of learning a new skill or starting a business.
Americans say Muslims might buy guns so guns must be banned.
Americans say people might drive without seatbelts so Americans scream that they need seatbelt checkpoints.
Americans say black people might use hammers to smash the heads of white people so hammers must be outlawed.
Americans say libtards might protest so protesting must be banned.
Americans say Muslims go to mosques so religious freedom must be illegal.
Americans say the news might be fake so newspapers must be closed.
Americans say someone might use pot so there must be asset forfeiture.
Americans say there might be terrorism so there must NSA wiretapping, CIA torture, and TSA groping.
There is absolutely no hope for the USA. No one hates freedom more than Americans do. The US deserves everything coming to it.
what alternate universe do you live in?
Great…add another possible trigger for the coming unrest
The Chinamen were just ‘drafting’ – just like NASCAR.
If he fires one, I’ll fire one!
Fire one!
And that happened in China’s backyard or the US’s backyard? Just wondering. And who is provoking who?????
Beware! Gulf of Tonkin!
The U.S. says it controls the whole of North and South America and it’s seas, but China cannot control it’s area of influence. Seems like something is wrong with that picture. Do we really need to be in the South China Sea?
Can’t provoke a war that will profit all the globalist cartels unless you keep poking at the hornet’s nest.
Alfred Thayer Mahan
Henry Harley Arnold