The sweeping naval exercises were conducted for the first time since China built strategic outposts in the sea, which is seen as a crucially important waterway for international trade.
American and British warships have sailed together for the first time in the disputed South China Sea, in six-day joint military drills, the US Navy's 7th Fleet said in a statement, which went on to specify that the exercise covered “communication, division tactics and a personnel exchange designed to address common maritime security priorities, enhance interoperability, and develop relationships that will benefit both navies for many years to come”.
The drills in the strategically important waterway involved the guided-missile destroyer USS McCampbell and Royal Navy frigate HMS Argyll, and are the first ones since China built a number of artificial islands in a bid to strengthen its position in the region, with Beijing citing defensive purposes.
“We routinely train with regional allies and partners, but it is a rare opportunity for my team to work with the Royal Navy”, Allison Christy, the McCampbell's commanding officer, said in a US Navy statement.
The move came shortly after a trilateral anti-submarine warfare exercise between the US Navy, UK's Royal Navy and the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force on 21-22 December. Also, earlier this month the same ship, McCampbell, passed within 12 nautical miles of the Paracel Islands, which are claimed…
