86
Y. Bao
5.3.1 Characteristics of the “Unauthorized Passage” of US
Warships in the South China Sea 2015–2019
Several characteristics of the “unauthorized passage” of US warships can be
generalized from Table 5.1.
First, the frequency of such kind of challenge is notably high. As can be seen
from Table 5.1 above, from October 2015 to May 2020, over a period of less than
5 calendar years, US warships have conducted “unauthorized passage” to challenge
Table 5.1 US FON operations challenged Chinese “prior authorization“ requirement, October
2015–May 2020
Date of challenge Event
Geographic location
27/10/2015
USS Lassen sailed within 12 nm of Subi Reef
Spratly Islands
29/01/2016
USS Curtis Wilbur sailed within 12 nm of Triton
Island
Paracel Islands
10/05/2016
USS William P. Lawrence sailed within 12 nm of
Fiery Cross Reef
Spratly Islands
02/07/2017
USS Stethem sailed within 12 nm of Triton Island
Paracel Islands
17/01/2018
USS Hopper sailed within 12 nm of Scarborough Reef Scarborough Reef
30/09/2018
USS Decatur sailed within 12 nm of Gaven Reef and
Johnson Reef
Spratly Islands
26/11/2018
USS Chancellorsville sailed within 12 nm of the
territorial sea of Paracel Islands
Paracel Islands
07/01/2019
USS McCampbell sailed within 12 nm of the
territorial sea of Paracel Islands
Paracel Islands
06/05/2019
USS Preble and USS Chung Hoon sailed within 12 nm
of Gaven Reef and Johnson Reef
Spratly Islands
20/05/2019
USS Preble sailed within 12 nm of Scarborough Reef Scarborough Reef
28/08/2019
USS Wayne E. Meyer sailed within 12 nm of Fiery
Cross Reef and Mischief Reef
Spratly Islands
13/09/2019
USS Wayne E. Meyer sailed within 12 nm of the
territorial sea of Paracel Islands
Paracel Islands
22/11/2019
USS Wayne E. Meyer sailed within 12 nm of the
territorial sea of Paracel Islands
Paracel Islands
25/01/2020
USS Montgomery sailed within 12 nm of Johnson
Reef and Fiery Cross Reef
Spratly Islands
10/03/2020
USS McCampbell sailed within 12 nm of the
territorial sea of Paracel Islands
Paracel Islands
28/4/2020
USS Barry sailed within 12 nm of the territorial sea of
Paracel Islands
Paracel Islands
29/4/2020
USS Bunk Hill sailed within 12 nm of Gaven Reefs
Spratly Islands
Source Prepared by the author
Y. Bao
5.3.1 Characteristics of the “Unauthorized Passage” of US
Warships in the South China Sea 2015–2019
Several characteristics of the “unauthorized passage” of US warships can be
generalized from Table 5.1.
First, the frequency of such kind of challenge is notably high. As can be seen
from Table 5.1 above, from October 2015 to May 2020, over a period of less than
5 calendar years, US warships have conducted “unauthorized passage” to challenge
Table 5.1 US FON operations challenged Chinese “prior authorization“ requirement, October
2015–May 2020
Date of challenge Event
Geographic location
27/10/2015
USS Lassen sailed within 12 nm of Subi Reef
Spratly Islands
29/01/2016
USS Curtis Wilbur sailed within 12 nm of Triton
Island
Paracel Islands
10/05/2016
USS William P. Lawrence sailed within 12 nm of
Fiery Cross Reef
Spratly Islands
02/07/2017
USS Stethem sailed within 12 nm of Triton Island
Paracel Islands
17/01/2018
USS Hopper sailed within 12 nm of Scarborough Reef Scarborough Reef
30/09/2018
USS Decatur sailed within 12 nm of Gaven Reef and
Johnson Reef
Spratly Islands
26/11/2018
USS Chancellorsville sailed within 12 nm of the
territorial sea of Paracel Islands
Paracel Islands
07/01/2019
USS McCampbell sailed within 12 nm of the
territorial sea of Paracel Islands
Paracel Islands
06/05/2019
USS Preble and USS Chung Hoon sailed within 12 nm
of Gaven Reef and Johnson Reef
Spratly Islands
20/05/2019
USS Preble sailed within 12 nm of Scarborough Reef Scarborough Reef
28/08/2019
USS Wayne E. Meyer sailed within 12 nm of Fiery
Cross Reef and Mischief Reef
Spratly Islands
13/09/2019
USS Wayne E. Meyer sailed within 12 nm of the
territorial sea of Paracel Islands
Paracel Islands
22/11/2019
USS Wayne E. Meyer sailed within 12 nm of the
territorial sea of Paracel Islands
Paracel Islands
25/01/2020
USS Montgomery sailed within 12 nm of Johnson
Reef and Fiery Cross Reef
Spratly Islands
10/03/2020
USS McCampbell sailed within 12 nm of the
territorial sea of Paracel Islands
Paracel Islands
28/4/2020
USS Barry sailed within 12 nm of the territorial sea of
Paracel Islands
Paracel Islands
29/4/2020
USS Bunk Hill sailed within 12 nm of Gaven Reefs
Spratly Islands
Source Prepared by the author