China’s military closely monitored and “drove away” USS Halsey that entered the territorial waters of Paracel Islands in the South China Sea on May 10, the Southern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army said in a statement. The US move “seriously infringed on China’s sovereignty and security,” the military said.
The US Navy responded by stating that the USS Halsey was exercising navigational rights and freedoms following international law. The destroyer completed its operation near the Paracel Islands and continued on in the South China Sea.
In a significant development, India joined the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), a US-led navy alliance comprising 43 partner nations. This collaboration, seen as a departure from India’s traditional policy of strategic autonomy, comes at a time when China’s maritime activities in the Indian Ocean region are increasing. India’s partnership with CMF could bolster its efforts to counter China’s assertiveness at sea, particularly in the context of joint operations against common threats like narcotics trafficking.