As per to U.S. 7th Fleet, USS Chancellorsville (CG-62) sailed past the Spratly Island chain
on 29th Nov as part of a freedom of navigation operation.
“USS Chancellorsville (CG-62) asserted navigational rights and freedoms in the South China Sea
near the Spratly Islands, consistent with international law. At the conclusion of the
operation, USS Chancellorsville exited the excessive claim area and continued operations
in the South China Sea,” reads the statement from 7th Fleet.
“The freedom of navigation operation (“FONOP”) upheld the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses
of the sea recognized in international law by challenging restrictions on innocent passage
imposed by the People’s Republic of China, Vietnam and Taiwan.”
The Japan-based warship has been operating with the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group
in recent months.
In this video Defense Updates analyzes why China could only protest as USS Chancellorsville
sailed in the South China Sea? Let’s get into the details.
The Chinese
state-supported South China Sea Probing Initiative published satellite images on Twitter showing
the cruiser was operating near the Chinese artificial island at Fiery Cross Reef along
with a U.S. P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft.
China asserts that foreign warships passing within the territorial sea of its claims in
the South China Sea require prior approval from Beijing. Under the U.N. Law of the Sea
Convention, a warship can make an “innocent passage” through another country’s territorial
waters without prior notification.
China claims almost 90% of the South China Sea. It said that it has "indisputable sovereignty"
over the area. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei,
and Taiwan have disputed these claims. The route is significant as about $5 trillion
in trade through shipping passes each year. Countries like the US, Japan, and India have
no claims in the area and want ‘Freedom of Navigation’ as per international maritime
laws.
In a statement following the transit, the PLA Southern Theater claimed Chinese forces
drove Chancellorsville out of Chinese territorial waters.
“Chancellorsville illegally intruded into the waters adjacent to China’s Nansha islands
and reefs without the approval of the Chinese Government, and organized naval and air forces
in the Chinese southern theater of the People’s Liberation Army to follow and monitor and
give a warning to drive them away,” reads a translation of the statement. “The U.S.
military’s actions have seriously violated China’s sovereignty and security, which
is another ironclad proof of its hegemony in navigation and militarization of the South
China Sea, and fully demonstrates that the United States is an out-and-out security risk
maker in the South China Sea.”
A follow-up statement by 7th Fleet statement busted its claim,
“The PRC’s statement about this mission is false. USS Chancellorsville (CG-62) conducted
this FONOP in accordance with international law and then continued on to conduct normal
operations in waters where high seas freedoms apply. The operation reflects our continued
commitment to uphold freedom of navigation and lawful uses of the sea as a principle.
The United States is defending every nation’s right to fly, sail, and operate wherever international
law allows, as USS Chancellorsville did here. Nothing the PRC says otherwise will deter
us.”
While china wants to impose its will, the problem is that USS Chancellorsville is a
potent warship capable of responding to any misadventure by the Chinese military.
USS Chancellorsville (CG-62) is a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser.
It has an overall length of 567 ft or 173 m and a displacement of about 9,600 tons.
This makes it one of the largest cruisers in the world.
USS Chancellorsville is designed as a multi-role warship. It can carry out Anti Aircraft Warfare
(AAW), Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW), and Anti Surface Warfare (ASuW).
It is equipped with Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense which is devised to intercept ballistic
missiles post-boost phase and prior to reentry. It enables USS Chancellorsville to shoot down
enemy ballistic missiles by expanding the Aegis Combat System with the addition of the
AN/SPY-1 radar and Standard missiles. USS Chancellorsville also has AN/SQQ-89(V)1/3
- A(V)15 Sonar suite.
It s a lethal platform and is capable of carrying out different kinds of missions.
It has in total 122 cells Mk 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS). These can be configured with
the combination of the following weapons, based on the mission requirements such as
SM-2MR Block IIIB for Air Defense & Anti Ship role, SM-3 for Ballistic missile defense,
ESSM for anti-missile role, ERAM or SM 6 for anti-air warfare with a range of 150 miles
or 240 km and speed Mach 3.5, BGM-109 Tomahawk for land attack as well as RUM-139A VL-ASROC
for anti-submarine role.
It also has 2 × Mk 141 Harpoon Missile Launcher for Anti Ship role and 2 × Mark 32 triple
torpedo tubes for Mk-46 or Mk-50 torpedoes
Chancellorsville can also accommodate two MH-60R Seahawk LAMPS III helicopters that
are capable of Anti Submarine Warfare. The warship is also equipped with a long-range
naval gun and multiple Close-In Weapon Systems.
U.S. Navy has been conducting FONOPS in the South China Sea regularly for several years
and this policy is being continued by the Biden administration.
The last reported U.S. FONOP in the South China Sea was performed by the guided-missile
destroyer USS Benfold (DDG-65) in July.
The so-called comment of ‘driving away’ the Chancellorsville is just a hogwash designed
to cater to the domestic audience.
China did nothing, just like in earlier cases as well as during the high-profile visit of
Nancy Pelosi visits Taiwan. Verbal threats and false claims of 'warning
off' the US Navy warship is an attempt to face save.
Chinese military knows the single US warship is capable of inflicting massive damage.
USS Chancellorsville’s transit has put the Chinese military in its place.