Chinese report questions legality of U.S. 'freedom of navigation' operations

The China Institute for Marine Affairs under the Ministry of Natural Resources on Sunday released a report questioning the legality of the U.S. "freedom of navigation" operations.

The report states that the U.S. concept of "freedom of navigation" incorporates self-defined standards and purported customary rules that run counter to international law and the practices of many countries. 

It notes that the U.S. notion of "freedom of navigation" lacks grounding in international law and distorts both its interpretation and development. The report argues that the practice exemplifies Washington's routine reliance on military power to pressure other countries.

According to the report, the U.S. approach serves Washington's national interests and geopolitical strategies, while relying on military power in ways that could undermine regional peace and stability and disrupt the international maritime order. It further criticizes the U.S. practices as "illegal, unreasonable and marked by double standards."