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Line 91: ===South China Sea incident=== [[File:USNS Impeccable–SCSea incident02.jpg\|thumb\|left\|250px\| 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 March 8, 2009, the ''Impeccable'' was ~~involved in an incident with the [[People's Liberation Army Navy\|Chinese Navy]]~~harassed while collecting data in [[international waters]], as recognized by the United States, 75 miles south of [[Hainan]]. China, claims this area in the [[South China Sea]] as a part of its [[Exclusive Economic Zone]].<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]], March 9, 2009</ref><ref> [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7934138.stm China hits out at US on navy row] [[BBC News]] [[2009-03-10]]</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> The unarmed ''Impeccable'' was shadowed by five [[Chinese]] ships, including a Bureau of Maritime Fisheries Patrol Vessel, a [[State Oceanographic Administration]] patrol vessel, a [[People's Liberation Army Navy\|Chinese Navy]] ocean surveillance ship, and two small Chinese-flagged [[trawler\|trawlers]], 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>[http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jLGjotiM5K34OisyYCFafERRGJ7wD96QID000 Pentagon: Chinese vessels harassed unarmed ship], ''[[Associated Press]]'', March 9, 2009</ref> The civilian crew sprayed water at one of the nearest Chinese ships, but the Chinese sailors, despite the force of the water, stripped down to their underwear, and the vessel closed to within 25 feet of the American ocean surveillance ship. Shortly after the incident, the ''Impeccable'' radioed the Chinese crews, informing them of its intentions to leave the area, and requesting a safe pass to travel. When trying to leave the area, however, two of the Chinese ships stopped directly in front of the ''Impeccable'', forcing it to do an [[emergency stop]] to avoid a collision.<ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29596179/ U.S. protests harassing of Navy ship by Chinese], ''[[MSNBC]]'', March 9, 2009.</ref><ref name="WP0309">[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/09/AR2009030900956.html?hpid=moreheadlines U.S. Protests 'Harassment' of Navy Ship by Chinese Vessels], ''[[Washington Post]]'', March 9, 2009</ref> The crew aboard one of the Chinese ships also used a grappling hook to try to snag ''Impeccable''{{'s}} towed sonar array.<ref name="msnbc">[http://deepbackground.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/03/09/1829183.aspx Close call off South China Sea], [[MSNBC]], March 9, 2009</ref> This incident was the latest in a string of incidents involving the ''Impeccable'' and Chinese vessels. On March 5, 2009, a Chinese [[frigate]] approached ''Impeccable'' and crossed its bow at a range of approximately 100 yards. This was followed less than two hours later by a Chinese [[Harbin Y-12\|Y-12]] aircraft conducting 11 fly-bys of ''Impeccable'' at an altitude of {{convert\|600\|ft}} and a range from {{convert\|100\|-\|300\|ft\|-1}}. The frigate then crossed ''Impeccable''{{'s}} bow again, this time at a range of approximately 400–500 yards without rendering courtesy or notice of her intentions.<ref> [http://military.rightpundits.com/2009/03/09/usns-impeccable-chinese-vessels-harass-us-navy-ship/ USNS Impeccable: Chinese Vessels Harass US Navy Ship], March 9, 2009</ref><ref> [http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/09/us.navy.china/index.html Pentagon says Chinese vessels harassed U.S. ship], [[CNN]]</ref> Line 101: The [[People's Republic of China\|Chinese]] Foreign Ministry says the USNS ''Impeccable'' was conducting activities in China's [[Exclusive Economic Zone]] in the [[South China Sea]], violating international and Chinese law. Legal experts, however, state that China has no legal foundation to claim that it can prevent foreign naval vessels from operating within its Exclusive Economic Zones.<ref> http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/63656.html</ref> The Foreign Ministry also said that the Pentagon's complaint that five Chinese vessels had harassed the USNS Impeccable were "totally inaccurate".<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7934138.stm China hits out at US on navy row] [[BBC News]] [[2009-03-10]]</ref><ref>[http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/10/content_10983647.htm Foreign Ministry says the USNS ''Impeccable'' violating international and Chinese law], ''[[Xinhua]]'', March 10, 2009</ref> China's claim has already been disputed by several released reports, which all state that the ''Impeccable'' was harassed numerous times, both while operating in the area and when attempting to leave.<ref> http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090310/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_china_incident</ref><ref> http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/mar/10/south-china-navy</ref><ref> http://www.huliq.com/3257/78221/spy-ship-usns-impeccable-harassed-chinese-ships-report</ref> "China's done this before, they've harassed boats that they feel have intruded into an area they claim," said Wendell Minnick of ''[[Jane's Defence Weekly]]''. The ''Impeccable''{{'s}} surveillance mission is focused mainly on undersea warfare. This may be of a particular interest to the Chinese government, as they operate an estimated 62 submarines, most of which are diesel electric powered.<ref> http://www.sinodefence.com/navy/sub/default.asp</ref> ==Honors and awards==

USNS Impeccable: Difference between revisions