Original title: The Russian-British Black Sea confrontation, the US media really came out to stir up the muddy waters, and even got involved with China!
[环球网报道记者 徐璐明]The incident of Russian warships driving away the British destroyers by force on June 23 caused public attention. The American media also jumped out to stir the muddy waters, believing that the British warships passed through harmlessly, and even added fuel and jealousy to China.
The website of the United States Naval Institute (USNI) reported on June 23 that the British Ministry of Defense issued a statement to the agency that day that Russian warships did not report to the British “Guardian” operating in the Black Sea (also translated as “Guardian”). ”) Fire or drop a bomb warning.
According to the report, the British Secretary of Defense Ben Wallace issued a statement saying: “This morning (23rd), the British Royal Navy’s destroyer “Guardian” sailed through the Black Sea from the port of Odessa, Ukraine, and reached Georgia.” “According to the normal conditions of this route, the’Guardian’ entered the internationally recognized sub-navigation passage and left the passage at 4:45 in the morning (local time in the UK). In accordance with the usual practice, the Russian ship carried on the ship. After tracking, the ship’s crew also knew that the Russian army was conducting training exercises there.”
According to the Russian side, the Russian army dispatched warplanes and warships to drive away the British destroyer, the Russian patrol boat fired warning shots at the ship, and another Su-24 fighter-bomber dropped 4 bombs in its course. The Russian Ministry of Defense said: “The joint operation of the Russian Black Sea Fleet and the Russian Federal Border Security Agency prevented the British destroyer’Guardian’ from encroaching on the Russian national border.”
However, the USNI News report described these Russian practices as “harassment” of sailing British destroyers. The British Ministry of Defence subsequently issued a statement in response to the Russian Ministry of Defence’s remarks, insisting that the destroyer “Guardian” passed through Ukrainian territorial waters innocently. Russia had previously announced that it would hold shooting exercises near this area.
According to USNI News, according to the agency’s understanding, the “Guardian” was passing between the Ukrainian port of Odessa and Georgia. The warship was operating on an internationally recognized sea route to Crimea. Cape Fiorent (located in Sevastopol, Crimea) is less than 12 nautical miles away. According to AIS (Automatic Ship Identification System) information, the British warship is no more than 10 nautical miles from the coast of Crimea.
USNI also explained the “harmless passage” of British warships, stating that the “United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea” allows warships to pass through the territorial waters of any country, allowing them to pass 12 nautical miles without prior notice. Also, the premise is that the ship does not carry out military activities, does not send ships or planes, and does not make a stay. USNI also mentioned that the United States had used the method of “harmless passage” to oppose China’s “South China Sea sovereignty claim” as part of its “freedom of navigation” operation.
However, the Russian side does not agree with the claim that the British destroyer “passed harmlessly.” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zakharova said on the 23rd that the British Embassy in Russia also claimed that the British ship had not been fired and warned, but had “passed through Ukrainian waters harmlessly in accordance with international law.” “Who is lying: The British Ministry of Defense, A BBC reporter or the British Embassy in Russia? The answer is yes…” Zakharova wrote. Russian Satellite News Agency believes that Zakharova hinted that it was the British Ministry of Defense and the embassy that lied. In addition, Zakharova also stated that the British side should “knock on the door” next time they want to “pass harmlessly” through Russian waters.
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