Maritime Dispute: US Must Toughen On China’s Maritime Misconduct Amid Chinese Jets Intercept On US Reconnaissance

Just this week, two Chinese jet fighters intercepted a US reconnaissance aircraft over the South China Sea, forcing it to descend to avoid a collision in maritime disputed sea. AUS Defense official said two Chinese J-11 fighter jets flew within 50 feet of the U.S. EP-3 aircraft taking place east of Hainan Island.

This interception is likely to worsen tension roughly all-over the contested waterway where it took place in international airspace Tuesday while the plane displayed "a routine U.S. patrol," according to Fox News.

Another abrupt move from China was its strategic cancellation of a scheduled port call in Hong last month by US Navy nuclear-powered aircraft super carrier John C Stennis. Beijing's response was to close Hong Kong to the Stennis including four escort ships. Although Chinese port calls have been cancelled before, the incident was the first time it was done as a salvo to its massive campaign for maritime supremacy in East Asia, Fox News continued.

The port-call cancellation was downplayed by Pentagon. Defense Department official then discharged the issue on grounds that there were "other opportunities to come ashore" for Stennis. This move ignores China's strategic message, Fox added. When notably, China did not only reject a port call but the entire military power balance in East Asia where the role of chief guardian for stable maritime order including vital shipping routes was long been served by the US.

US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said US warships and aircraft have continued "to fly, sail and operate" within the South China Sea. However, Chinese naval combatants have been tailing these operations where it has also challenged Japan and the Philippines over disputed islands.

Although amicably, China's President Xi Jinping customarily pleaded for "mutual respect" between the US and China. For Reuters, the situation calls the US to react decisively to China's rising confrontation in freedom of navigation in international waters, particularly in Asia's maritime dispute.