Chart – Breaking report- The so-called “freedom of navigation operations” by the United States are naked acts of hegemony

On October 23, a new report titled “Navigational and Overflight Conditions in the South China Sea” was released in Beijing. The report criticizes the United States’ so-called “freedom of navigation” operations, claiming that they operate outside the framework of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. It argues that the U.S. is attempting to impose its domestic laws and practices over international law, showcasing blatant hegemonic behavior that has nothing to do with actual navigation freedom.

In recent years, U.S. military operations in the South China Sea have taken on a more provocative tone, with the U.S. increasingly conducting close reconnaissance near Chinese territory and Hainan Island. Data indicates that American military aircraft approach China’s mainland and Hainan Island around 100 times a year, often within 30 nautical miles of territorial waters. The U.S. maintains that its military can operate “anywhere permitted by international law,” seemingly unconcerned about the implications such actions have on the security of other nations.

The distinction between general reconnaissance within an exclusive economic zone and overly aggressive maneuvers that approach or allegedly enter a nation’s territorial waters is significant. The latter is considered a provocative act, posing a serious threat to the sovereignty and security of the countries involved. Under the banner of “freedom of navigation,” the U.S. appears to be seeking justifications for military intervention, while its actions in the South China Sea reflect a double standard and hypocrisy, which contribute significantly to regional instability.