Posted:
March 10, 2009
Five Chinese vessels March 8 shadowed and aggressively maneuvered in close proximity to the USNS Impeccable in the South China Sea, the American Forces Press Service reported.
The U.S. oceanographic ship was 70 miles south of Hainan Island conducting routine operations in international waters when the vessels approached, said Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman.
The Chinese vessels—including a Chinese naval intelligence collection ship, a Bureau of Maritime Fisheries patrol vessel, a State Oceanographic Administration patrol vessel and two Chinese-flagged trawlers—surrounded the Impeccable and closed to within 50 feet, according to the report.
Crew members of the Impeccable used fire hoses to spray one of the vessels as a protective measure. The Chinese crew of the vessel disrobed to their underwear and the vessel closed to within 25 feet, according to the report.
The Chinese vessels dropped pieces of wood in the Impeccable's path and two of the vessels stopped in front of the Impeccable, forcing the ship to stop, according to the report. Chinese crew members on the vessels also attempted to grapple the Impeccable's towed sonar array.
“We view these as unprofessional maneuvers by the Chinese vessels and violations under international law to operate with due regard for the rights and safety of other lawful users of the ocean,” Whitman said.
The master of the Impeccable used bridge-to-bridge radio circuits to inform the Chinese ships in a friendly manner that it was leaving the area and requested a safe path to navigate.
This incident followed other incidents of harassment by the Chinese earlier in the month, the American Forces Press Service reported. U.S. embassy officials lodged a protest against these actions with the Foreign Ministry in China, and Defense Department officials have protested with the Chinese embassy in the U.S.
Chinese vessels shadow, obstruct unarmed U.S. survey ship
Five Chinese vessels March 8 shadowed and aggressively maneuvered in close proximity to the USNS Impeccable in the South China Sea, the American Forces Press Service reported.
The U.S. oceanographic ship was 70 miles south of Hainan Island conducting routine operations in international waters when the vessels approached, said Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman.
The Chinese vessels—including a Chinese naval intelligence collection ship, a Bureau of Maritime Fisheries patrol vessel, a State Oceanographic Administration patrol vessel and two Chinese-flagged trawlers—surrounded the Impeccable and closed to within 50 feet, according to the report.
Crew members of the Impeccable used fire hoses to spray one of the vessels as a protective measure. The Chinese crew of the vessel disrobed to their underwear and the vessel closed to within 25 feet, according to the report.
The Chinese vessels dropped pieces of wood in the Impeccable's path and two of the vessels stopped in front of the Impeccable, forcing the ship to stop, according to the report. Chinese crew members on the vessels also attempted to grapple the Impeccable's towed sonar array.
“We view these as unprofessional maneuvers by the Chinese vessels and violations under international law to operate with due regard for the rights and safety of other lawful users of the ocean,” Whitman said.
The master of the Impeccable used bridge-to-bridge radio circuits to inform the Chinese ships in a friendly manner that it was leaving the area and requested a safe path to navigate.
This incident followed other incidents of harassment by the Chinese earlier in the month, the American Forces Press Service reported. U.S. embassy officials lodged a protest against these actions with the Foreign Ministry in China, and Defense Department officials have protested with the Chinese embassy in the U.S.