‘US challenging excessive maritime claims on regular basis’

WASHINGTON – The United States is preparing to conduct freedom of navigation operations to “challenge excessive maritime claims on a regular basis around the world,” State Department spokesman Mark Toner said.

He said these operations were not targeted at any individual country but were to be made in accordance with international law and applied evenhandedly with a wide range of nations.

Toner declined to say if Washington had informed Southeast Asian countries about its plan to let its ships sail within 12 nautical miles of artificial islands created by Beijing in the South China Sea.

He said the US was in constant touch with China and shared its concerns and intentions regarding the South China Sea.

Asked at a news briefing if this meant telling the Chinese “we are sending a boat in here, don’t shoot at it,” he said, “I don’t know” and referred the questioner to the Pentagon.

The US has been considering for weeks deploying warships within 12 miles of China’s artificial islands to show its non-recognition of Beijing’s territorial claims.

Pentagon officials said they are ready to conduct the mission and are just awaiting orders from the Obama administration.