U.S. Navy sends ship near disputed island in South China Sea

CNN ^ | January 30, 2016 | By Barbara Starr and Joshua Berlinger

[Mariner]

(CNN)The U.S. Navy sent a ship near a contested island in the South China Sea on Saturday to challenge "excessive maritime claims that restrict the rights and freedoms of the United States and others," a U.S. Defense Department spokesman told CNN.

"This operation challenged attempts by the three claimants, China, Taiwan and Vietnam, to restrict navigation rights and freedoms around the features they claim by policies that require prior permission or notification of transit within territorial seas," Cmdr. Bill Urban said.

"This operation demonstrates, as President Obama and Secretary [Ash] Carter have stated, the United States will fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows. That is true in the South China Sea, as in other places around the globe."

The USS Curtis Wilbur, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, sailed within 12 nautical miles of the Triton Island, part of the Paracel Islands -- an archipelago claimed by the three.

None of them was notified of the move.

[Mariner]

This has been the calling card of the US Navy for over 200 years. They continue to fulfill their mission.

Because only a fool would fire on a Burke DDG at sea.

[the_daug]

If China takes them prisoner will Obama write them a check?

[Spok]

I hope they realize that if they get in a fix, the CIC will hang them out to dry, like Benghazi.

[DoughtyOne]

Please help make FR's voice louder.

Truth, Justice, and the American Way.

click the bottom graphic and support them

[AFreeBird]

Yea, but a fool as CiC would order them to “safe” weapons.

[ASA Vet]

[ex91B10]

Sure...look how scared tBe Iranians were...

[Smokin' Joe]

Better to ask forgiveness...

If they are fired upon, what's to lose?

[Spok]

And, in the words of a former Secretary of State, “What difference does it make?”.

[Smokin' Joe]

“We fired on your ship? What ship?”

[SunkenCiv]

Gosh, I hope there aren't any ships from the mighty Iranian navy nearby!

[buckalfa]

"Because only a fool would fire on a Burke DDG at sea."

You would think, but I wonder if the US Navy ship would be allowed to fire back. Rules of engagement and all of that.

[rlmorel]

I am sickened by what has become the US Navy.

I don’t know enough about what happened with those crews and what their orders were, but I can’t reconcile simply surrendering in that fashion out of hand. The USS Pueblo surrendered after being fired on by a 57 mm cannon, I understand that. And I am trying not to judge the crews of these vessels taken by the Iranians because I don’t know the facts. I concede it may be possible they were dupes and tools.

But I simply cannot get over what happened in the Persian Gulf with our vessels. From the captains up to the CIC, something is rotten.

There is something seriously wrong with the USN.

My first inkling of this was when I first saw the PBS special “Carrier”. I was looking forward to it, and after watching a few episodes, I was appalled. I know PBS was going to make it as negative as it could, but the crew members were nearly beyond recognition to me as sailors.

I know there are plenty of good sailors in the fleet, but I watched that miniseries and realized back then that there is no way that military unit can be successful they way they were (and are) running it.