|
 "'Hey, you are in Chinese waters. What is your intention?'," it
asked, as recounted to reporters on Thursday by Commander Robert
Francis, commanding officer of the Lassen.
His crew replied that they were operating in accordance with
international law, and intended to transit past the island, carrying
out what U.S. officials have called a freedom-of-navigation exercise
designed to challenge China's claims to the strategic waterway.
The response from the Chinese destroyer?
"The same query, over and over," said Francis, speaking onboard the
aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt as it sailed 150 to 200
nautical miles from the southern tip of the Spratly archipelago, a
chain of contested islands where China's seven artificial outposts
have taken shape in barely two years.
The Lassen had joined the carrier strike group the night before,
ahead of a visit to the Theodore Roosevelt by U.S. Secretary of
Defense Ash Carter, who while on board blamed China for rising
tension in the region.
 Beijing has rebuked Washington over the Lassen's patrol, the most
significant U.S. challenge yet to territorial limits China claims
around its new islands.
China claims most of the South China Sea, through which more than $5
trillion in global trade passes every year. Vietnam, Malaysia,
Brunei, the Philippines and Taiwan have rival claims.
In comments that underscore the frequency with which U.S. warships
now come across Chinese vessels in Asian waters, Francis said the
Lassen had had about 50 "interactions" with Chinese military ships
and aircraft since May while on patrol in the South and East China
Seas, something he described as routine.
"Every day a U.S. ship is down here, we interact with the Chinese,"
Francis said.
Experts say China has dozens of naval and coastguard vessels
deployed in the South China Sea at any given time, adding that
encounters with U.S. warships are likely to increase after U.S.
officials said the navy planned to conduct patrols within 12
nautical miles of China's artificial islands about twice a quarter.
"WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING THIS SATURDAY?"
The Chinese destroyer shadowed the Lassen for 10 days before and
after its Oct. 27 patrol near the artificial islands, said Francis.
The Lassen got to within six to seven nautical miles from the
nearest Chinese land formation, he added.
[to top of second column] |
But not all U.S.-Chinese naval interactions are tense, especially
when things are slow on the high seas.
"A few weeks ago we were talking to one of the ships that was
accompanying us, a Chinese vessel ... (We) picked up the phone and
just talked to him like, 'Hey, what are you guys doing this
Saturday? Oh, we got pizza and wings. What are you guys eating? Oh,
we're doing this. Hey, we're planning for Halloween as well'." The
intent, Francis said, is "to show them ... that we're normal
sailors, just like them, have families, just like them."
The Chinese sailors, speaking in English, responded by talking about
where they were from, their families and places they have visited,
Francis said.
Eventually, the Chinese destroyer that had followed the Lassen on
its mission past the artificial islands peeled away.
"They were very cordial the entire time ... even before and after
the Spratly islands transit," Francis said.
"When they left us they said, 'Hey, we're not going to be with you
anymore. Wish you a pleasant voyage. Hope to see you again'." As for
Francis and his crew of 300 sailors, they were unfazed by the
intense media coverage of one of the most highly anticipated U.S.
naval patrols in years, although Francis said his mother, having
seen the news, did call to ask whether he was actually in China.
"It's another day in the South China Sea. All of it is
professional," he said.
(Editing by Dean Yates and Will Waterman)
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
