On Oct. 27, the U.S. Aegis destroyer Lassen carried out a Freedom of Navigation Operation (FONOP) in the South China Sea within 12 nautical miles of China-occupied Subi Reef.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang stated that "The USS Lassen illegally entered waters near relevant islands and reefs of China's Nansha Islands without the permission of the Chinese government. Relevant actions by the U.S. naval vessel threatened China's sovereignty and security interests, put the personnel and facilities on the islands and reefs at risk and endangered regional peace and stability." What is likely to happen next and what are the legal and political aspects?
This FONOP was rather long in materializing as its wisdom was hotly debated between the U.S. Defense Department and the White House national security team. It was purportedly intended to challenge China's maritime claims there. But its execution was muddled and its message ambiguous. Because of geographic and legal complexities it was not clear what and whose "excessive" claim was being challenged.