Mohamed Ameen Dabhelia – 2018/05/29

Beijing has condemned the presence of United States Navy warships near the South China Sea islands claimed by the Chinese.

Professor at the University of Sydney Salvatore Babones told Radio Islam that there is nothing illegal about the US ships sailing close to the islands.

“It’s China who claims control of these islands, illegally according to international law. The Hague has ruled that China had no right to build these islands.”

China’s Defence Ministry expressed its anger, saying it had sent ships and aircraft to warn the US warships to leave, adding they had entered the country’s territorial waters without permission.

Babones however says the islands are claimed by Vietnam too, but the court of arbitration ruled that no country has the ability to claim the land.

Reports suggest the operation on Sunday was the latest attempt to counter what Washington sees as Beijing’s ­efforts to limit freedom of navigation in the strategic waters.