Germany to send warships to the East Sea, US voices support
The US appreciates Germany's plan to send warships to the East Sea to show support for the "rules-based international order" in the region.
“The United States has a national interest in the maintenance of peace and stability, respect for international law, unimpeded lawful commerce, freedom of navigation, and other lawful uses of the sea. We welcome Germany’s support for a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific. The international community has an important role to play in maintaining an open maritime order,” a US State Department spokesperson said on March 3.
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Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said that countries can exercise their rightfreedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Seaaccording to international law, but it should not be used as an excuse to affect the sovereignty and security of coastal countries.
China has established outposts on artificial islands it illegally built in the South China Sea. Meanwhile, the US has rejected China's excessive claims in the South China Sea, calling them illegal.
The US Navy regularly conducts “freedom of navigation” operations in the South China Sea and calls on allied countries to do the same.
Last month, France said a nuclear-powered attack submarine and its warships patrolled the South China Sea to emphasize freedom of navigation./.
