In the South China Sea, the United States is neither a claimant nor a coastal state. The country however, conducts what it says are "freedom of navigation operations" in the region. And as Chen Yuan reports, it's a position opposed by many countries. 

ANNA MALINDOG-UY, Vice President of External Affairs, Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute "I think the United States is playing a very chaotic role in the South China Sea."

If you look at U.S. military activities in the South China Sea, you will find these: spy planes, military drills, and, so-called "freedom of navigation operations." From 2015-2023, a total of 45 "freedom of navigation operations" have been conducted against China around the islands and reefs in the South China Sea. Internationally, they're not perceived in a good light.

ANNA MALINDOG-UY, Vice President of External Affairs, Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute "It wants to preserve so called freedom of navigation. That's more of their interests. It's not the interests of my country."

AZMI HASSAN, Senior Fellow, Nusantara Academy "The problem with South China Sea is not because of the four claimants plus China, it is because of United States using the freedom of navigation as an excuse to be involved in South China Sea."

The notion of "freedom of the seas" has been around for centuries, while the term "freedom of navigation" was used explicitly in the 1982 UNCLOS, or United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. While all nations recognize freedom of passage for commercial vessels, the U.S. wants it to mean unrestricted access for its warships and submarines. This, of course, is challenged by many.

DONG JUN, Chinese Defense Minister "Isn't that bullying? If this is freedom of navigation, I don't know what rules mean anymore."

A 2017 report observed that "Malaysia considers unauthorized military activities in the EEZ as unlawful and a threat to its territorial integrity and political independence." In 2020, then Malaysian Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein wrote in a statement, "while international law guarantees the freedom of navigation, the presence of warships and vessels in the South China Sea has the potential to increase tensions."

ANNA MALINDOG-UY, Vice President of External Affairs, Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute "As a respectful country, probably they should refrain from interfering, let the claimant states like China and the Philippines resolve their own problem."

AZMI HASSAN, Senior Fellow, Nusantara Academy "If there is no United States, only China plus ASEAN as organization trying to resolve the issue, I think it can be done."

For international observers, the key issue is America's stubborn unilateralism. Despite not ratifying UNCLOS, despite not being a claimant in the South China Sea, the United States is insistent and capable of bending the rules to assert dominance in the region. Chen Yuan, CGTN, Beijing.