[Global Times reporter Guo Yuandan] On the 13th, the guided-missile destroyer USS Benford illegally entered China's Xisha territorial waters without the approval of the Chinese government.
On the same day, the Southern Theater of the Chinese People's Liberation Army was the first to announce the illegal behavior of the "Benford", and for the first time disclosed the on-site disposal map.
Experts believe that, as can be seen from the published pictures, under the strict surveillance of the PLA, the artillery and fire control radar of the US ship were in their starting positions and did not conduct exercises.
The navy's Xianning ship in the southern theater tracked and monitored the guided-missile destroyer USS Benford that illegally entered China's Xisha territorial waters and warned it to leave
Regarding the behavior of the "Benford", the spokesman of the Southern Theater Command, Air Force Colonel Tian Junli, said that the Southern Theater Command organized naval and air forces to track and monitor and warned them to leave.
The actions of the US military have seriously violated China's sovereignty and security, seriously undermined the peace and stability of the South China Sea, and seriously violated international law and norms of international relations.
"Benford" is a familiar face to the People's Liberation Army.
On January 20 this year, the "Benford" also illegally entered the territorial waters of China's Xisha.
On July 12 and September 8, 2021, the "Benford" carried out missions of the same nature.
Different from the previous ones, the Southern Theater has disclosed two on-site disposal maps for the first time. One is a full view of the "Benford", and the hull number (small picture) can be clearly seen; the other is from a Chinese ship. The long-term view of the "Benford" taken on the Xianning ship (large picture) shows that the ship was tracking and monitoring the "Benford" at that time.
Zhang Xuefeng, a military expert, told the Global Times reporter on the 13th that this is the first time that the southern theater has released photos of China's response to the US warship. Respond more proactively.
An industry insider told the Global Times reporter on the same day that it can be seen from the pictures that the distance between the Chinese and American ships is very close, indicating that China is effectively tracking and monitoring the US ships and can grasp the dynamics of the US military in relevant waters in real time.
On the other hand, China voluntarily released the photos to show to the international community that the illegal fact that the United States intruded into China's Xisha territorial waters is beyond doubt; the United States violated China's sovereignty and violated international law and international relations norms beyond doubt; the Chinese fleet is tracking and monitoring American ships and warning them There is no doubt about the forceful measures of expulsion.
Zhang Xuefeng said that it can be seen from the photos that under the strict surveillance of the People's Liberation Army, the artillery and fire control radar of the U.S. ship were in the starting position and did not conduct exercises, which may be intended to show that he intends to "pass through harmlessly".
The industry insiders mentioned above also said that the trespassing of the U.S. warship into the Xisha also once again showed the duality of the U.S. saying one thing and acting the other way. Violate China's national sovereignty and territorial security and create risks.
Whether it was the meeting between the defense ministers of China and the United States in Singapore on June 10, or the video call between Li Zuocheng, a member of the Central Military Commission and the Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission, and the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff on July 7, the United States has indicated that it has strengthened dialogue with China, Willingness to manage risk and avoid conflict.
On the 9th of this month, when State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with U.S. Secretary of State Blinken, the U.S. side also stated that it would add a "guardrail" to China-U.S. relations.
However, in actual actions, whether it was the US Republican Senator Scott's visit to Taiwan on July 7-9, or the US warship's trespassing on the Xisha on the 13th, they all run counter to what the US calls its commitment to "controlling risks and avoiding conflicts". .
Zhuo Hua, an international affairs expert at the School of International Studies at Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times reporter that the roundabout strategy of the US has long lost its confusion to China, which listens to its words and deeds, and its cumulative effect will continue to push Sino-US relations to the next level. A dead end, at the military level, it will continue to increase the risk of military confrontation and misfire in the South China Sea.