China has begun sending maritime surveillance vessels to Hawaii waters as a "countermeasure" to U.S. military involvement in the South China Sea, a pro-China newspaper published in Taiwan reported.
If that’s the case, none has arrived, according to the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
The Want China Times reported May 30 that the Chinese army navy was taking the step amid tensions between the U.S. Navy and China over the disputed waters of the Spratly Islands.
Whether the information is a propaganda move is unclear.
Pacific Fleet chief spokesman Capt. Darryn James said he would not "speculate about a vague news report on Chinese surveillance ship intentions."
"I will say that it is a fundamental right of all nations for military ships and aircraft to operate in international waters and airspace in accordance with well-established international law," James said. "And I can assure the public that we won’t be caught surprised, as the U.S. Navy closely monitors all activity in the Pacific."
The Navy flew a P-8A Poseidon surveillance plane over the Spratly Islands on May 22 — over China’s objections — as China continues an island-building campaign using dredged coral and sand, creating an airport and bringing in artillery vehicles.
China, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam and Brunei claim sovereignty over the small islands and reefs — and some have created outposts — but the United States is particularly concerned about the ambitious buildup by China, which has reclaimed over 2,000 acres from the sea.
At the May 27 U.S. Pacific Command change of command at Pearl Harbor, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said China’s activity was "out of step" with international norms that underscore the Asia-Pacific’s long-standing security architecture.
"First, we want a peaceful resolution of all disputes, and an immediate and lasting halt to land reclamation by any claimant. We also oppose any further militarization of disputed features," Carter said. "Second — and there should be no mistake, should be no mistake about this — the United States will fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows, as we do all around the world."
In July, at the time China was invited into Pearl Harbor to participate in Rim of the Pacific exercises for the first time, it also had a spy ship parked off Hawaii.
The Chinese army navy auxiliary general intelligence ship operated within the United States’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone around Hawaii, but not within the 12-nautical-mile territorial seas, U.S. Pacific Fleet said at the time.
The Navy previously confirmed that China sent an AGI spy ship near Hawaii in 2012 during that RIMPAC exercise.
The Chinese surveillance ship in July was "operating in waters in accordance with international law, and we do the same," the Pacific Fleet’s James said at the time.
