Chinese authorities say they sortied ships and aircraft to "track, monitor, verify, identify and expel" the guided-missile destroyer USS Barry from the Paracel Island chain in the South China Sea on Tuesday.

The People's Liberation Army's Southern Theatre Command accused the USS Barry of intruding into "waters around the Paracel Islands without permission," the South China Morning Post reported.

Navy officials told USNI News, however, that the Barry had conducted a "freedom of navigation operation" in the island chain off Vietnam.

The vessel had transited the Taiwan Strait twice earlier this month, provoking a similar reaction from China. The Chinese Liaoning Carrier Strike Group also transited the Taiwan Strait April 22, a day after Barry transited the same area.

PLA Southern Theatre Command spokesman Li Huamin said the operation was "incompatible with the current atmosphere as the international community is fighting pandemic."

The United States and China have each accused the other of using the COVID-19 pandemic as a distraction to exercise more military control in the South China Sea.

The Barry has been active in the South China Sea operating with the guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill and the amphibious assault ship USS America off the coast of Malaysia.

Related Links
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

EU denies softening report under China pressure
Brussels (AFP) April 27, 2020
The EU on Monday denied bowing to Chinese pressure to water down a report on coronavirus disinformation to soften criticism of Beijing. The New York Times said that, under pressure from Beijing officials, the EU had delayed publication of a regular report on disinformation trends last week, and toned down the final version. A spokesman for the EU's diplomatic service, Peter Stano, insisted no changes had been made as a result of outside influence. "I absolutely refute and dispute any indicat ... read more