The geopolitical situation in the South China Sea is difficult anyway, now it has come to an incident. A Chinese warship came almost together with a US guided missile cruiser. The Chinese had tried to stop the USS “Cowpens” – the Americans had to dodge.

A US guided missile cruiser is almost collided in the South China Sea with a Chinese warship. According to U.S. military information the Chinese ship tried to stop the USS “Cowpens”. The U.S. Navy ship had to take evasive action “to avoid a collision,” a spokesman for the Pacific Fleet said loudly U.S. troops magazine “Stars and Stripes”.

After a communication could be established from bridge to bridge, the Chinese ship had also changed its course, explained one U.S. military official. Why it came to the incident, is still unclear.

The incident took place on 5 December in international waters near the new Chinese aircraft carrier “Liaoning”. On the day U.S. Vice President Joe Biden was visiting Beijing. The U.S. government had the incident “high-level” raised with the Chinese government, wrote the magazine “Stars and Stripes”.

Asean officials are calling for a peaceful solution

Because of territorial disputes between China and its neighbors, the situation in the South China Sea is similarly strained in the East China Sea disputed with Japan , as in the sea area. China raises far-reaching territorial claims in the sea area . The ” Liaoning “, which has only been used for training purposes , crosses for the first time in the South China Sea . Beijing has announced there set up an air defense zone .

In the region , tensions have recently intensified after China had proclaimed an air defense zone around a disputed archipelago in the East China Sea. The area is also claimed by Japan. China’s declaration came in Japan and South Korea to sharp criticism. The U.S. accused the government in Beijing before a provocation. In addition, Japan , South Korea and the U.S. were still unannounced fly military aircraft through the area , so they ignored the air defense zone effectively . Biden had criticized before his departure to Beijing in early December the establishment of the zone as a ” provocative action ” .

Representatives of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ( Asean ) have spoken at a meeting in Tokyo this Saturday for the freedom of the seas and the air space. In a statement , the members called for a peaceful solution of conflicts.

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