US destroyer passes through Yellow Sea as China conducts military exercises
The USS Rafael Peralta was spotted passing through the Yellow Sea off Shanghai on the morning of May 15, a move that Chinese commentators described as "playing with fire".
According toSouth China Morning Post, USS Rafael Peralta, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, was seen about 116 nautical miles off China's east coast at 8 a.m. local time, according to a satellite image released by the Peking University think tank, citing the ship's AIS (automatic identification system) signal.
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| USS Rafael Peralta in Philippine waters on May 9. Photo: US Navy. |
This is the second US warship to appear in the Yellow Sea in less than a month. It has been moving in waters near China since May 3, according to satellite images.
Previously on April 17, the USS McCampbell was also detected in the Yellow Sea, only 42 nautical miles off the coast of Shandong province.
The US military's Pacific Fleet confirmed the incident on Twitter, saying the Rafael Peralta - capable of air defence and strike missions - had passed through the East China Sea "this week".
One of the images accompanying the Twitter post shows crew members forming the number 115 - the number in the ship's code name (DG-115).
The ship appeared as China began extensive military exercises in the Yellow Sea on May 14, involving two of its aircraft carriers.
The 11-week exercise will run until July 31, as the Chinese navy tries to catch up on training schedules that were disrupted by the coronavirus outbreak.
The incident also comes amid escalating tensions between Beijing and Washington on many fronts, including trade and military.
On May 14, US President Donald Trump announced on the channelFoxthat he was very disappointed with China's failure to control the Covid-19 epidemic, and declared that the US could cut off all relations with the world's second largest economy.
