CovOps
Location : Ether-Sphere Job/hobbies : Irrationality Exterminator Humor : Über Serious
| Subject: Ungrateful junior participant: China sends spy ship off Hawaii during U.S.-led drills Mon Jul 21, 2014 2:12 am | |
| China has sent a spy ship to international waters off Hawaii during a giant U.S.-led naval exercise involving 22 countries, even though Beijing is participating in the drills for the first time this year, the U.S. Navy said on Sunday.
The Navy played down any U.S. intelligence risk associated with the proximity of the Chinese surveillance vessel and noted that China also sent a similar ship to monitor the last Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise two years ago.
"We've taken all necessary precautions to protect our critical information," said Captain Darryn James, chief spokesman of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
"We expect this ship will remain outside of U.S. territorial seas and not operate in a manner that disrupts the ongoing Rim of the Pacific maritime exercise."
China's Defence Ministry, in a statement faxed to Reuters, said its naval vessels had the right under international law to operate "in waters outside of other country's territorial waters".
"China respects the rights granted under international law to relevant littoral states, and hopes that relevant countries can respect the legal rights Chinese ships have," it said, without elaborating.
U.S. officials hope China's participation in RIMPAC helps avert misunderstandings on the high seas but analysts long cautioned the manoeuvres may ultimately help Beijing strengthen its growing naval capability by observing the forces of the United States and its allies.
Still, the United States also conducts surveillance operations in international waters and airspace and the Navy did not voice protest over the appearance of the Chinese vessel, described as a Chinese Navy auxiliary general intelligence ship.
http://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFKBN0FQ05720140721 _________________ Anarcho-Capitalist, AnCaps Forum, Ancapolis, OZschwitz Contraband “The state calls its own violence law, but that of the individual, crime.”-- Max Stirner "Remember: Evil exists because good men don't kill the government officials committing it." -- Kurt Hofmann |
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