OREANDA-NEWS. On April 29, the missile cruiser Bunker Hill entered the South China Sea in the area of ​​the Spratly Archipelago, which Beijing considers to be its own territory. A day before, a similar maneuver was carried out by another American vessel, destroyer Barry, near the Paracel Islands.

Both archipelagos are claimed by several states. Territorial disputes regarding the South China Sea areas are held by China and Vietnam (in connection with the Paracel Islands), and by China, Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines (in connection with Spartly). The USA does not recognize China’s right to these territories and accuses Beijing of militarizing them.

The People’s Liberation Army of China has already protested about the maneuvers of Barry.