Indonesia, India and Philippines among other countries where Pentagon sent planes or boats to challenge territorial claims

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

The US military carried out freedom of navigation operations against 13 countries in 2015, including several against China for what it views as excessive claims to maritime and airspace jurisdiction, the Pentagon has said.

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The defence department carried out multiple freedom of navigation operations against China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Libya, Malaysia, the Maldives, Oman, the Philippines and Vietnam.

In operations targeting Chinese claims, the Pentagon challenged Chinese jurisdiction in the airspace above its declared maritime “exclusive economic zone” as well as restrictions it has attempted to impose on aircraft flying through an “air defence identification zone” off China’s coast.

Beijing has been extremely sensitive about US ship voyages and aircraft flights challenging maritime claims in the South China Sea, where Beijing has been reclaiming land to build artificial islands.