China says it ‘drove away’ US warship over illegal entry

IT COMES FIVE YEARS AFTER AN INTERNATIONAL COURT RULING SAID BEIJING HAS NO CLAIM IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA

BEIJING/HONG KONG: China’s military said it “drove away” a US warship that illegally entered Chinese waters near the Paracel Islands on Monday, the anniversary of an international court ruling that held Beijing had no claim over the South China Sea.

The USS Benfold entered the waters without China’s approval, seriously violating its sovereignty and undermining the stability of the South China Sea, the southern theatre command of the People’s Liberation Army said.

“We urge the United States to immediately stop such provocative actions,” it said in a statement.

On July 12, 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled that China had no historic title over the South China Sea, a ruling that China said it would ignore.

The USS Benfold asserted navigational rights and freedoms in the vicinity of the Paracel Islands consistent with international law, the US Navy said in a statement on Monday.

The islands are claimed by China, Taiwan and Vietnam, which require either permission or advance notification before a military vessel passes through.

“Under international law as reflected in the Law of the Sea Convention, the ships of all states, including their warships,enjoy the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea,” the US Navy added.

“By engaging in innocent passage without giving prior notification to or asking permission from any of the claimants, the United States challenged these unlawful restrictions imposed by China, Taiwan and Vietnam.”

Hong Kong: 5 more held in alleged bomb plot

Hong Kong police have arrested five more people on suspicion they were planning bomb attacks, adding that more arrests could be made as the investigation continues.

The group - aged between 15 and 37 - was taken into custody on Monday on suspicion of “conspiracy to plot terrorist activities”, a violation of the national security law, the Hong Kong police force said.

Police in the Asian financial hub said on July 6 said they had arrested nine people, including six high-school students, who were planning to use explosives to attack transport facilities such as train stations and tunnels this month.