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{{Short description|US naval surveillance vessel}}
{{Other ships|USS Impeccable}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2014}}
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|Hide header=
|Ship flag={{USN flag}}
|Ship name= USNS ''Impeccable''
|Ship namesake=
|Ship country=U.S.
|Ship owner=[[United States Navy]]
|Ship operator=[[Military Sealift Command]]
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|Ship sponsor=
|Ship christened=
|Ship completed= at Halter Marine Inc., [[Gulfport, Mississippi]], in 1995
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header= yes
|Ship launched= 28 August 1998
|Ship acquired= <!-- by the [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]], 22 March 2001 redundant -->
|Ship commissioned=
|Ship recommissioned=
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|Ship motto=
|Ship nickname=
|Ship honors= [[National Defense Service Medal]]
|Ship captured=
|Ship identification=*{{IMO Number|9249647}}
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|Header caption=
|Ship typeclass= ''Impeccable''-class [[ocean surveillance ship]]▼
|Ship class=
|Ship displacement= 5,368 tons▼
▲|Ship type= ''Impeccable''-class [[ocean surveillance ship]]
|Ship draftlength= {{convert|26281|ft|5|in|abbr=on}}▼
▲|Ship displacement= 5,368 tons
|Ship lengthbeam= {{convert|28195|ft|58|in|abbr=on}}
|Ship beamdraft= {{convert|9526|ft|8|in|abbr=on}}
▲|Ship draft= {{convert|26|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship power=
|Ship propulsion= [[diesel-electric]], two shafts, 5,000shp
|Ship speed= {{convert|12|kn}}
|Ship range=
|Ship boats=
|Ship complement= 25 civilian mariners, 25 military
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'''USNS ''Impeccable'' (T-AGOS-23)''' is an [[Impeccable -class ocean surveillance ship|''Impeccable''-class]] [[ocean surveillance ship]] acquired by the [[U.S. Navy]] in 2001 and assigned to [[Military Sealift Command]]'s [[Special Missions Program]].
 
==Construction==
''Impeccable'' was built by [[American Shipbuilding]], [[Tampa, Florida]]. The contract was awarded on 28 March 1991. The ship's keel was laid down on 15 March 1992, but the Tampa shipyards went bankrupt by November 1993.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://querywww.nytimes.com/gst1993/fullpage11/05/business/company-news-american-ship-seeks-bankruptcy-protection.html?res=9F0CE3D6123FF936A35752C1A965958260 |title=American AMERICANShip SHIPSeeks SEEKSBankruptcy BANKRUPTCY PROTECTIONProtection |date=5 workNovember 1993 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] | access-date=5 November 1993 | accessdate=27 May 2010}}</ref> On 3 December 1992, the General Accounting Office published a report that concluded that T-AGOS 24–27 should not be built.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gao.gov/products/NSIAD-93-53 |title=Navy Continues to Build Ships Designed for Soviet Threat |date=3 December 1992 |website=[[Government Accountability Office]] |access-date=16 February 2019}}</ref> Shortly afterwards the government decided to discontinue this class of ships, but the ''Impeccable'' was to be completed as the sole ship in itsher class. The hull was towed to [[Gulfport, Mississippi]], in 1995 where itshe was finished by Halter Marine Inc.<ref name=nvr>{{cite web |url={{NVRNaval urlVessel Register URL|id=AGOS23}} |title=USNS IMPECCABLEImpeccable (T-AGOS 23) |date= 21 October 2004 |workwebsite=[[Naval Vessel Register]] |publisher= [[United States Navy]] |accessdateaccess-date=11 March 2009}}</ref> She was launched on 28 August 1998 and was delivered to the Navy on 22 March 2001 which assigned her to the [[Military Sealift Command]] (MSC) [[Special Missions Program]].<ref>[{{cite web |url=http://www.msc.navy.mil/inventory/ships.asp?ship=106&type=OceanSurveillanceShip |title=Ship Inventory – USNS IMPECCABLE Impeccable (T-AGOS 23) – Ocean Surveillance Ship] {{webarchive|date=5 December 2001 |website=Military Sealift Command |access-date=16 February 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312071850/http://www.msc.navy.mil/inventory/ships.asp?ship=106&type=OceanSurveillanceShip |archive-date=12 March 2009 }}, Military Sealift Command</ref>
 
==Design==
The ship is a designated [[T-AGOS]] vessel built to tow a [[Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System]]. The ship's [[catamaran]]-type [[small waterplane area twin hull]] (SWATH) design prevents the vessel from rolling in heavy seas and gives additional deck space for storing the acoustic equipment.<ref>[http{{cite web |url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/tagos-23.htm |title=T-AGOS -23 Impeccable –|website=GlobalSecurity.org Swath|access-L (Large) Oceandate=16 SurveillanceFebruary Ship]2019}}</ref>
 
==Mission==
The mission of ''Impeccable'' is to directly support the Navy by using [[SURTASS]] passive and active low frequency [[sonar]] arrays to detect and track undersea threats. {{Citation needed|date=June 2009}}
 
==Operational history==
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===Low Frequency Active Sonar===
{{Main|Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System}}
*The SURTASS [[Low Frequency Active Sonar]] system, onboard ''Impeccable'', commenced sea trials in late February 2004. During the spring and summer of 2004, ''Impeccable'' conducted five training missions in the Philippine Sea and the northwest Pacific Ocean . All LFA sonar operations included the operation of the ''High Frequency / Marine Mammal Mitigation'' sonar and compliance with all mitigation requirements.<ref>{{cite webjournal |url=httphttps://frwebgate1www.access.gpogovinfo.gov/cgicontent/pkg/FR-bin2005-08-25/TEXTgatehtml/05-16938.cgi?WAISdocID=030769258598+0+1+0&WAISaction=retrievehtm |title=Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Navy Operations of Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Low Frequency Active Sonar |journal=[[Federal Register: August]] |date=25, August 2005 (Volume |volume=70, Number |number=164) |pages=49914–49915 |access-date=16 February 2019}}</ref>
* Total operational days on board the ''Impeccable'' using the LFA array:
:(15 August 2003 to 15 August 2004) 26.2 days with 63.0 hours of transmissions
:(15 August 2004 to 15 August 2005) 9.4 days with 22.7 hours of transmissions
:(15 August 2005 to 15 August 2006) 22.5 days with 39.4 hours of transmissions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/permits/surtass_lfa_final_report.pdf |title=Final Comprehensive Report for the Operation of the Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Low Frequency Active (SURTASS/ LFA) Final|author=Department Reportof the Navy, Chief of Naval Operations |date=January 2007 |website=NOAA |access-date=16 February 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170128132603/http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/permits/surtass_lfa_final_report.pdf |archive-date=28 January 2017}}</ref>
*The ship had five years of active and passive operations in the Western Pacific before the incident in the South China Sea.
 
===South China Sea incidents===
[[File:USNS Impeccable–SCSea incident02.jpg|thumb|left|Two Chinese trawlers stop directly in front of the ''Impeccable'', forcing the ship to conduct an emergency "all stop" in order to avoid collision.]]
On 5 March 2009, the ''Impeccable'' was in the [[South China Sea]] monitoring submarine activity<ref>[http{{cite web |url=https://www.msnbc.msnnbcnews.com/id/29623425wbna29623425 |title=Officials: Ship in China spat was hunting subs] [[MSNBC]] |date=10 March 2009 |website=NBC News |access-date=16 February 2019 }}</ref> when it was approached by a [[People's Liberation Army Navy]] (PLAN) [[frigate]], which crossed itsher bow at a range of approximately 100 yards without first making contact. This was followed less than two hours later by a Chinese [[Harbin Y-12|Y-12]] aircraft, conducting 11&nbsp;flyovers of ''Impeccable'' at an altitude of {{convert|600|ft}} and a range from {{convert|100|-|300|ft|-1}}. The frigate then crossed ''Impeccable''{{'s}}s bow again, this time at a range of approximately 400–500&nbsp;yards.<ref>[{{cite web |url=http://military.rightpundits.com/2009/03/09/usns-impeccable-chinese-vessels-harass-us-navy-ship/ |title=USNS Impeccable: Chinese Vessels Harass US Navy Ship] {{webarchive|date=9 March 2009 |website=Blue Star Chronicles |access-date=16 February 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312033301/http://military.rightpundits.com/2009/03/09/usns-impeccable-chinese-vessels-harass-us-navy-ship/ |archive-date=12 March 2009 }}, 9 March 2009</ref><ref>[{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/09/us.navy.china/index.html |title=Pentagon says Chinese vessels harassed U.S. ship], |date=9 March 2009 |website=[[CNN]] |access-date=16 February 2019}}</ref>
 
On 7 March, a Chinese intelligence ship contacted the ''Impeccable'' over bridge-to-bridge radio, calling her operations illegal and directing ''Impeccable'' to leave the area or "suffer the consequences."<ref>[{{cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=aUMS9YLJ2OmM&refer=asia |title=Chinese Vessels Harass U.S. Navy Ship, Pentagon Says], ''|last=Capaccio |first=Tony |date=9 March 2009 |website=[[Bloomberg L.P.News]]'', 9|access-date=16 MarchFebruary 20092019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024044349/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aUMS9YLJ2OmM&refer=asia |archive-date=24 October 2012}}</ref>
 
[[File:USNS Impeccable 090308-N-0000X-004.jpg|left|thumb|One Chinese crewmen waves a Chinese flag, while another uses a grappling hook to try to snag ''Impeccable's'{{'}}s towed sonar array.]]
On 8 March 2009, the ''Impeccable'' was 75&nbsp;miles south of [[Hainan]], China, when it was shadowed by five Chinese ships: a Bureau of Maritime Fisheries Patrol Vessel, a [[State Oceanic Administration]] patrol vessel, a PLA Navy ocean surveillance ship, and two Chinese-flagged [[naval trawler]]s, which maneuvered close to the ''Impeccable'', with two closing in to {{convert|50|ft}}, waving Chinese flags, and ordering the ''Impeccable'' from the area.<ref>[{{cite web |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jLGjotiM5K34OisyYCFafERRGJ7wD96QID000 |title=Pentagon: Chinese vessels harassed unarmed ship], ''|date=9 March 2009 |website=[[Associated Press]]'', 9|access-date=16 February 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312093958/https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jLGjotiM5K34OisyYCFafERRGJ7wD96QID000 |archive-date=12 March 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://oceanengineering.blogspot.com/2009/03/usns-impeccable.html |title=USNS Impeccable |last=Miller |first=James |date=10 March 2009 |website=Ocean Engineering Blog |access-date=16 February 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312233544/http://oceanengineering.blogspot.com/2009/03/usns-impeccable.html |archive-date=12 March 2009}}</ref> The ''Impeccable'' sprayed water at one of the nearest Chinese ships; the Chinese sailors stripped down to their underwear and their vessel closed in to within 25&nbsp;feet of the American ship. Shortly after the incident, the ''Impeccable'' radioed the Chinese crews, informing them of itsher intentions to leave the area, and requesting a safe pass to travel. When itshe was trying to leave the area, the two Chinese trawlers dropped pieces of wood in the ''Impeccable''{{'}}s path and stopped directly in front of ither, forcing ither to do an [[emergency stop]] to avoid a collision.<ref>[http{{cite web |url=https://www.msnbc.msnnbcnews.com/id/29596179/wbna29596179 |title=U.S. protests harassing of Navy ship by Chinese], ''[[MSNBC]]'', |date=9 March 2009. |website=NBC News |access-date=16 February 2019 }}</ref><ref name="WP0309">[{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/09/AR2009030900956.html?hpid=moreheadlines |title=U.S. Protests 'Harassment'Chinese ofShadowing Navyin ShipInternational byWaters Chinese|last=Tyson Vessels],|first=Ann ''Scott |date=10 March 2009 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]'', 9|access-date=16 MarchFebruary 20092019}}</ref> Once the ''Impeccable'' got under way, the crew aboard one of the trawlers used a grappling hook to try to snag ''Impeccable's'{{'}}s towed sonar array.<ref name="msnbc">[{{cite web |url=http://deepbackground.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/03/09/1829183.aspx |title=Close call off South China Sea], [[MSNBC]],|last1=Miklaszewski |first1=Jim |last2=Kube |first2=Courtney |date=9 March 2009 |website=MSNBC |access-date=16 February 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090311064135/http://deepbackground.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/03/09/1829183.aspx |archive-date=11 March 2009 }}</ref>
[[File:Paracel 88.png|thumb|right|The [[Hainan Submarine Base]] is on the island of Hainan. The nearby [[Paracel Islands]] are administered by China, but claimed by both Vietnam and Taiwan]]
 
The United States lodged formal protests following the incident, stating that under international law, the U.S. military can conduct activities "in waters beyond the territorial sea of another state without prior notification or consent" including in an [[exclusive economic zone]] of another country. "The unprofessional maneuvers by Chinese vessels violated the requirement under international law to operate with due regard for the rights and safety of other lawful users of the ocean."<ref name="WP0309"/><ref name="REUTERS">[{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE52845A20090309 |title=U.S. says Chinese vessels harassed Navy ship], ''|last=Morgan |first=David |date=9 March 2009 |website=[[Reuters]]'', 9|access-date=16 MarchFebruary 20092019}}</ref> China's Foreign Ministry responded that the Pentagon's complaintcomplaints that five Chinese vessels had harassed the ''Impeccable'' were "totally inaccurate",<ref name="China hits out at US on navy row"/><ref>[{{cite web |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/10/content_10983647.htm Foreign Ministry|title=China says theU.S. USNSnaval ''Impeccable''ship violatingbreaks international andint'l, Chinese law], ''|date=10 March 2009 |website=[[Xinhua News Agency]]'', |access-date=16 February 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090313032821/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/10/content_10983647.htm |archive-date=13 March 2009}}</ref> although this claim was disputed by several released reports, which all state that the ''Impeccable'' was interfered with numerous times, both while operating in the area and when attempting to leave.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090310/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_china_incident |title=Officials: US ship in China spat was hunting subs |last=Gearan |first=Anne |date=10 March 2009 |website=Yahoo! News |access-date=16 February 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090318210214/https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090310/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_china_incident |archive-date=18 March 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/mar/10/south-china-navy | work=The Guardian | location=London | title=Stand-off shows Chinese navy's secret tactics | first=Ed | last=Pilkington | date=10 March 2009 |newspaper=The accessdateGuardian |location=London |access-date=27 May 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.huliq.com/3257/78221/spy-ship-usns-impeccable-harassed-chinese-ships-report |title=Spy Ship USNS Impeccable Harassed by Chinese Ships: Report |first=Michael |last=Santo |date=9 March 2009 |website=HULIQ |access-date=16 February 2019}}</ref>
 
On 12 March 2009, U.S. President [[Barack Obama]] gave the go-ahead to send the [[guided missile destroyer]] [[{{USS |Chung-Hoon (DDG-93)|USS ''Chung-Hoon'']] (DDG-93)|6}} to the South China Sea to protect the ''Impeccable'' while operating in that area.<ref>{{cite news| |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article5898650.ece | work=The Times | location=London | title=US warships head for South China Sea after standoff | first=Tim | last=Reid | date=14 March 2009 |newspaper=[[The accessdateTimes]] |location=London |access-date=27 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429093210/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article5898650.ece |archive-date=29 April 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/12/AR2009031203264.html | work=The Washington Post | title=Navy Sends Destroyer to Protect Surveillance Ship After Incident in South China Sea |first=Ann Scott |last=Tyson |date=13 March 2009 |newspaper=The accessdateWashington Post |access-date=27 May 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/03/12/obama-meet-chinese-foreign-minister-ship-confrontation | work=Fox News | title=Obama Calls for Improved Military Dialogue Between U.S. and China, After Naval Confrontation | date=12 March 2009 | deadurlwebsite=yes[[Fox News]] |url-status=dead archiveurl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090315013825/http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/03/12/obama-meet-chinese-foreign-minister-ship-confrontation/ | archivedatearchive-date=15 March 2009 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>
 
[[Hans M. Kristensen]] of the [[Federation of American Scientists]] has suggested that the incident may be related to the classified [[Type 093 submarine]] that the Chinese navy had recently deployed in the area.<ref>[{{cite web |url=http://www.fas.org/blog/ssp/2009/03/incident.php |title=US-Chinese Anti-Submarine Cat and Mouse Game in South China Sea] |first=Hans M. |last=Kristensen |date=9 March 2009 |website=Federation of American Scientists |access-date=16 February 2019 |archive-date=30 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130130232004/http://www.fas.org/blog/ssp/2009/03/incident.php |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 
====Views on the legality of US and Chinese actions during these incidents====
[[File:USNS Impeccable T-AGOS-23 port forward view.jpg|thumb|''Impeccable'' in 2009]]
China and the United States both maintain the rightfulness of their actions based on competing interpretations of the [[United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea]].
The United States maintains that the Convention, which it has signed, but not yet ratified, authorizes activities such as those undertaken by ''Impeccable''.<ref name="China hits out at US on navy row">[{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7934138.stm |title=China hits out at US on navy row] |date=10 March 2009 |website=[[BBC News]] 10|access-date=16 MarchFebruary 20092019}}</ref><ref name="jane">[{{cite web |url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/US-And-China-Face-Off-In-South-China-Sea-USNS-Impeccable-And-Chinese-Boats/Article/200903215238151?lpos=World_News_First_World_News_Article_Teaser_Region_1&lid=ARTICLE_15238151_US_And_China_Face-Off_In_South_China_Sea%2C_USNS_Impeccable_And_Chinese_Boats |title=US Andand China Face- Off Onin TheSouth HighChina Seas],Sea |date=9 March 2009 |website=[[Sky News]], 9|access-date=10 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312233323/http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/US-And-China-Face-Off-In-South-China-Sea-USNS-Impeccable-And-Chinese-Boats/Article/200903215238151?lpos=World_News_First_World_News_Article_Teaser_Region_1&lid=ARTICLE_15238151_US_And_China_Face-Off_In_South_China_Sea%2C_USNS_Impeccable_And_Chinese_Boats |archive-date=12 March 2009 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>[{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7933171.stm |title=Chinese ships 'harass' US vessel], |date=9 March 2009 |website=[[BBC News]], 9|access-date=16 MarchFebruary 20092019}}</ref> Several legal experts also state that there is no legal foundation for China's claim that it can prevent foreign naval vessels from operating within its Exclusive Economic Zone. For example, Raul Pedrozo, writing in the ''Chinese Journal of International Law'', concludes that "all nations may legitimately engage in military activities in foreign exclusive economic zones, without prior notice to, or consent of, the coastal State concerned."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/63656.html |title=ArchivedWhy copydid China choose now to surround a U.S. warship? |accessdatefirst=Tim |last=Johnson |date=10 March 2009 |website=[[McClatchyDC]] |access-03-date=11 March 2009 |deadurlurl-status=yesdead |archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090313045527/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/63656.html |archivedatearchive-date=13 March 2009 |df= }}</ref><ref>http{{cite journal |title=Preserving Navigational Rights and Freedoms://papers. The Right to Conduct Military Activities in China's Exclusive Economic Zone |first=Raul (Pete) |last=Pedrozo |date=1 March 2010 |journal=Chinese Journal of International Law |volume=9 |issue=1 |pages=9–29 |ssrn = 1565306|doi = 10.com1093/sol3chinesejil/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1565306jmq007}}</ref> On the contrary, Chinese officials assert that the operations are illegal. Rear Admiral [[Wang Dengping]], political commissar of the Armament Department of the [[Chinese Navy]], condemned the ''Impeccable's'{{'}}s activities, stating that "Innocent passage by naval vessels from other countries in the [[Territorial waters]] in the [[Special Economic Zone]] is acceptable, but not allowed otherwise"<ref>[{{cite web |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/10/content_10985038.htm], [[Xinhua]],|title=Navy lawmaker: Violation of China's sovereignty not allowed |date=10 March 2009 |website=Xinhua News Agency |access-date=7 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107064608/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/10/content_10985038.htm |archive-date=7 November 2012}}</ref> under the Convention. Chinese actions were further defended by Professor Ji Guoxing of [[Shanghai Jiao Tong University]] who, writing in ''China Security'', maintained that under the Convention, navigation rights in coastal countries' exclusive economic zones are "subject to the resource-related and environment-related laws and regulations of the coastal state," and China could exclude the ''Impeccable'' on this basis. Ji further asserted that the Convention's prohibition against gathering military intelligence in another country's territorial waters should be interpreted to also prohibit intelligence gathering in coastal countries' exclusive economic zones.<ref>{{cite webjournal |url=http://www.chinasecurity.us/pdfs/jiguoxing.pdf |title=ArchivedThe copyLegality of the 'Impeccable Incident' |accessdateauthor=2011-09Ji Guoxing |journal=China Security |volume=5 |number=2 |date=Spring 2009 |access-date=14 September 2011 |deadurlurl-status=yesdead |archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327211055/http://www.chinasecurity.us/pdfs/jiguoxing.pdf |archivedatearchive-date=27 March 2012 |df= }}</ref>▼
 
▲The United States maintains that the Convention, which it has signed, but not yet ratified, authorizes activities such as those undertaken by ''Impeccable''.<ref name="China hits out at US on navy row">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7934138.stm China hits out at US on navy row] [[BBC News]] 10 March 2009</ref><ref name="jane">[http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/US-And-China-Face-Off-In-South-China-Sea-USNS-Impeccable-And-Chinese-Boats/Article/200903215238151?lpos=World_News_First_World_News_Article_Teaser_Region_1&lid=ARTICLE_15238151_US_And_China_Face-Off_In_South_China_Sea%2C_USNS_Impeccable_And_Chinese_Boats US And China Face-Off On The High Seas], [[Sky News]], 9 March 2009</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7933171.stm Chinese ships 'harass' US vessel], [[BBC News]], 9 March 2009</ref> Several legal experts also state that there is no legal foundation for China's claim that it can prevent foreign naval vessels from operating within its Exclusive Economic Zone. For example, Raul Pedrozo, writing in the ''Chinese Journal of International Law'', concludes that "all nations may legitimately engage in military activities in foreign exclusive economic zones, without prior notice to, or consent of, the coastal State concerned."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/63656.html |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2009-03-11 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090313045527/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/63656.html |archivedate=13 March 2009 |df= }}</ref><ref>http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1565306</ref> On the contrary, Chinese officials assert that the operations are illegal. Rear Admiral [[Wang Dengping]], political commissar of the Armament Department of the [[Chinese Navy]], condemned the ''Impeccable's'' activities, stating that "Innocent passage by naval vessels from other countries in the [[Territorial waters]] in the [[Special Economic Zone]] is acceptable, but not allowed otherwise"<ref>[http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/10/content_10985038.htm], [[Xinhua]], 10 March 2009</ref> under the Convention. Chinese actions were further defended by Professor Ji Guoxing of [[Shanghai Jiao Tong University]] who, writing in ''China Security'', maintained that under the Convention, navigation rights in coastal countries' exclusive economic zones are "subject to the resource-related and environment-related laws and regulations of the coastal state," and China could exclude the ''Impeccable'' on this basis. Ji further asserted that the Convention's prohibition against gathering military intelligence in another country's territorial waters should be interpreted to also prohibit intelligence gathering in coastal countries' exclusive economic zones.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chinasecurity.us/pdfs/jiguoxing.pdf |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2011-09-14 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327211055/http://www.chinasecurity.us/pdfs/jiguoxing.pdf |archivedate=27 March 2012 |df= }}</ref>
 
==2015 rescue at sea==
On July 19, 2015 while en route for a scheduled port visit to [[Subic Bay]], USNS ''Impeccable'' (T-AGOS 23) rescued 11 fishermen. ''Impeccable'' sailors spotted personnel on a partially submerged ship and noted debris in the water. "They [''Impeccable'' crew] initially spotted only eight people on the partially submerged vessel," said Lt. Cory Hilgart, the theater anti-submarine watch officer at Commander, Task Force 74. "They then realized that it was actually 11 and made the call to commence the rescue effort." The ''Impeccable''{{'}}s master immediately deemed assistance was required and began preparations to deploy their [[rigid hull inflatable boat]] (RHIB) to rescue the personnel. "This was a team effort with civilian mariners, SECDET [security detachment], MILDET [military detachment] and Lockheed Martin working together to achieve an efficient rescue of all 11 fishermen," said Robert Wiechert, Master of the ''Impeccable''. The RHIB made three trips to the distressed vessel and recovered all 11eleven individuals. "One of the crew members spoke English," said Hilgart. "He told the ''Impeccable'' crew that they were fishermen from the Subic Bay region. He confirmed that there were only 11 on board." Once the mariners were brought aboard ''Impeccable'', they were examined by medical personnel and given food and water. No serious injuries or illnesses were reported. Shortly after ''Impeccable'' arrived in port in Subic Bay, July 20, all 11the mariners were turned over to the [[Philippine Coast Guard]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=90211 |title=USNS Impeccable Rescues Distressed Fishermen |last=Reynolds |first=Brian G. |date=20 July 2015 |website=U.S. Navy Submarine Group 7 Public Affairs |access-date=16 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.stripes.com/news/usns-impeccable-crew-rescues-filipino-fishermen-1.358852 |title=USNS Impeccable crew rescues Filipino fishermen |date=20 July 2015 |newspaper=[[Stars and Stripes (newspaper)|Stars and Stripes]] |access-date=16 February 2019}}</ref>
 
==Honors and awards==
''Impeccable'' personnel are qualified for the following medals:
* [[National Defense Service Medal]]
 
==See also==
* [[Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea]]
{{Portal|Military of the United States|United States Navy}}
* [[Hainan Island incident]]▼
* [[USNS Victorious (T-AGOS-19)|USNS ''Victorious'' (T-AGOS-19)]]▼
* [[New Star ship incident]]▼
* [[USNS Stalwart (T-AGOS-1)|USNS ''Stalwart'' (T-AGOS-1)]]▼
* [[Territorial waters]]
* [[United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea]]
▲* [[USNS Victorious (T-AGOS-19)|USNS ''Victorious'' (T-AGOS-19)]]
▲* [[New Star ship incident]]
▲* [[USNS Stalwart (T-AGOS-1)|USNS ''Stalwart'' (T-AGOS-1)]]
▲* [[Hainan Island incident]]
 
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{NVRNaval Vessel Register|{{NVRNaval Vessel Register urlURL|id=AGOS23}}}}
 
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.{{navsource.org/archives/|09/66/6623.htm|USNS NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive –Impeccable (T-AGOS-23 Impeccable])}}
* [http://www.msc.navy.mil/pm2/ Special Mission Program] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913184005/http://www.msc.navy.mil/PM2/ |date=13 September 2008 }}
* [httphttps://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/tagos-23.htm T-AGOS 23 Impeccable] at GlobalSecurity.org: T-AGOS 23 Impeccable]
 
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[[Category:International maritime incidents]]
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