A US Navy destroyer faced a major engineering setback in the Pacific after losing power, reportedly leaving key onboard systems including toilets, air conditioning and the galley out of action. The incident involving USS Benfold comes as the US Navy faces growing operational demands, putting the spotlight on the challenges of keeping its warships mission-ready.


Reports suggest USS Benfold left powerless

USS Benfold lost power after an engineering failure

Amid tensions with China, US warship USS Benfold passed through the South China Sea as Chinese forces followed the warship.

The PLA said the entry of the US warship was "illegal" even as the US Navy said the warship "asserted navigational rights and freedoms in the vicinity of the Paracel Island, consistent with international law".

China claims the South China Sea as its own even though other countries in the region including Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei have also have similar claims to the islands.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/nanning-how-chinas-new-warship-with-anti-stealth-radar-is-set-to-change-balance-in-south-china-sea-392163">Also Read in Pics:&nbsp;Nanning: China's new warship with anti-stealth radar</a>&nbsp;

The international court at The Hague had rejected China's claim of historical rights over the islands however the Chinese government hasn't recognised the verdict.

"We solemnly demand that the US side immediately stop such provocative actions, otherwise it will bear the serious consequences of unforeseen events," the PLA said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/aircraft-carrier-killer-why-us-china-tested-missiles-on-same-day-amid-tension-at-south-china-sea-318653">Also&nbsp;Read in Pics:&nbsp;Why US, China tested missiles on same day amid tension in&nbsp;South China Sea</a>

7th Fleet spokesman Mark Langford informed that&nbsp;"at the conclusion of the operation, USS Benfold exited the excessive claim and continued operations in the South China Sea." The US carries out what it calls "freedom of navigation operations" asserting&nbsp;that its warships sail&nbsp;through international waters.

The PLA said it had deployed naval and air forces to engage and track down the US destroyer. It was the first time a US warship had sailed through the South China Sea this year.

(With inputs from Agencies)

Amid tensions with China, US warship USS Benfold passed through the South China Sea as Chinese forces followed the warship. The PLA said the entry of the US warship was "illegal" even as the US Navy said the warship "asserted navigational rights and freedoms in the vicinity of the Paracel Island, consistent with international law".

Amid tensions with China, US warship USS Benfold passed through the South China Sea as Chinese forces followed the warship. The PLA said the entry of the US warship was "illegal" even as the US Navy said the warship "asserted navigational rights and freedoms in the vicinity of the Paracel Island, consistent with international law". China claims the South China Sea as its own even though other countries in the region including Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei have also have similar claims to the islands. Also Read in Pics: Nanning: China's new warship with anti-stealth radar The international court at The Hague had rejected China's claim of historical rights over the islands however the Chinese government hasn't recognised the verdict. "We solemnly demand that the US side immediately stop such provocative actions, otherwise it will bear the serious consequences of unforeseen events," the PLA said. Also Read in Pics: Why US, China tested missiles on same day amid tension in South China Sea 7th Fleet spokesman Mark Langford informed that "at the conclusion of the operation, USS Benfold exited the excessive claim and continued operations in the South China Sea." The US carries out what it calls "freedom of navigation operations" asserting that its warships sail through international waters. The PLA said it had deployed naval and air forces to engage and track down the US destroyer. It was the first time a US warship had sailed through the South China Sea this year. (With inputs from Agencies)

Chinese Navy, Air Force follow US warship in South China Sea

HMS Queen Elizabeth, a British aircraft carrier, and its Carrier Strike Group have entered the South China Sea, a territory predominantly claimed by China, reports the UK Defence Journal.

China claims practically the whole 1.3 million-square-mile South China Sea as its sovereign territory, and it has blamed foreign warships for escalating tensions in the region.

Freedom of navigation operations (or FONOPs) are routinely conducted by the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia to counter what Washington refers to as "attempts by coastal states to unjustly limit access to the seas."

Both the US and the UK have previously enraged China by conducting FONOPs in the South China Sea to assert freedom of navigation rights. 
 
Watch | Gravitas: British warship to challenge Beijing in South China Sea

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-british-warship-to-challenge-beijing-in-south-china-sea-399814/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The HMS Queen Elizabeth is escorted by six Royal Navy ships, a Royal Navy submarine, a US Navy destroyer, and a Dutch frigate, and is carrying eight F-35B Lightning II fast jets, four Wildcat maritime attack helicopters, seven Merlin Mk2 anti-submarine and airborne early warning helicopters, and three Merlin Mk4 commando helicopters on deck.

China has been carrying out incursions, sinking foreign ships, establishing new districts, giving Chinese names to islands, building new artificial islands and using fishing vessels as maritime militias in the South China Sea.

The South China Sea is a strategic waterway surrounded by six nations, such as China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei. &nbsp;

Two groups of islands here are at the centre of a fierce territorial dispute. The first is the Paracel Archipelago, contested by China, Taiwan and Vietnam.

The second is the Spratly Islands, disputed between China and all other five nations. These islands are strategic because they are surrounded by waters teeming with marine life and are rich in oil and gas resources. &nbsp;

One-third of the world's shipping traffic also passes through the South China Sea. Beijing claims sovereignty over nearly the entire sea.

(With inputs from agencies)

HMS Queen Elizabeth, a British aircraft carrier, and its Carrier Strike Group have entered the South China Sea, a territory predominantly claimed by China, reports the UK Defence Journal.

HMS Queen Elizabeth, a British aircraft carrier, and its Carrier Strike Group have entered the South China Sea, a territory predominantly claimed by China, reports the UK Defence Journal. China claims practically the whole 1.3 million-square-mile South China Sea as its sovereign territory, and it has blamed foreign warships for escalating tensions in the region. Freedom of navigation operations (or FONOPs) are routinely conducted by the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia to counter what Washington refers to as "attempts by coastal states to unjustly limit access to the seas." Both the US and the UK have previously enraged China by conducting FONOPs in the South China Sea to assert freedom of navigation rights. Watch | Gravitas: British warship to challenge Beijing in South China Sea The HMS Queen Elizabeth is escorted by six Royal Navy ships, a Royal Navy submarine, a US Navy destroyer, and a Dutch frigate, and is carrying eight F-35B Lightning II fast jets, four Wildcat maritime attack helicopters, seven Merlin Mk2 anti-submarine and airborne early warning helicopters, and three Merlin Mk4 commando helicopters on deck. China has been carrying out incursions, sinking foreign ships, establishing new districts, giving Chinese names to islands, building new artificial islands and using fishing vessels as maritime militias in the South China Sea. The South China Sea is a strategic waterway surrounded by six nations, such as China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei. Two groups of islands here are at the centre of a fierce territorial dispute. The first is the Paracel Archipelago, contested by China, Taiwan and Vietnam. The second is the Spratly Islands, disputed between China and all other five nations. These islands are strategic because they are surrounded by waters teeming with marine life and are rich in oil and gas resources. One-third of the world's shipping traffic also passes through the South China Sea. Beijing claims sovereignty over nearly the entire sea. (With inputs from agencies)

UK warship ignores Beijing warnings and enters the South China Sea

China said on Monday US warship USS Benfold had entered the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/five-years-after-south-china-sea-ruling-chinas-presence-around-philippines-only-growing-397029">South China Sea</a> area near the Paracel Islands violating the sovereignty of the country.

The Chinese military asserted that it "drove&nbsp;away" the US warship.

"We urge the United States to immediately stop such provocative actions," China said.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/chinas-shandong-aircraft-carrier-conducts-military-exercise-in-south-china-sea-382412/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The disputed island is claimed by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/vietnam-orders-netflix-to-remove-australian-spy-show-over-south-china-sea-map-395387">Vietnam</a>, Taiwan and China as the US Navy said under the Law of the Sea Convention says all ships "including warships enjoy the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea."

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-navy-says-carrier-group-operating-in-south-china-sea-391584">US Navy</a> added that China claims are "inconsistent with international law" while adding that it cannot claim its territorial sea.

The US has insisted on the "freedom of the seas" while its warship have passed through the South China Sea and the Taiwan Straits angering China.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken had earlier said that China continues to "coerce" and "intimidate" Southeast Asian coastal states.

"Nowhere is the rules-based maritime order under greater threat than in the South China Sea," the US secretary of state added.&nbsp;

China's foreign ministry however hit back saying the United States was harming peace and stability in the region as it asked the US to stop "stirring up trouble" in the South China Sea.

However, Blinken said: “We call on (China) to abide by its obligations under international law, cease its provocative behaviour, and take steps to reassure the international community that it is committed to the rules-based maritime order that respects the rights of all countries, big and small.”

China has rejected the international tribunal's&nbsp;decision's handed out in 2016 which said that its historical claim over the South China Sea islands was without basis.

(With inputs from Agencies)

China said on Monday US warship USS Benfold had entered the South China Sea area near the Paracel Islands violating the sovereignty of the country. The Chinese military asserted that it "drove away" the US warship.

China said on Monday US warship USS Benfold had entered the South China Sea area near the Paracel Islands violating the sovereignty of the country. The Chinese military asserted that it "drove away" the US warship. "We urge the United States to immediately stop such provocative actions," China said. Watch: The disputed island is claimed by Vietnam, Taiwan and China as the US Navy said under the Law of the Sea Convention says all ships "including warships enjoy the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea." The US Navy added that China claims are "inconsistent with international law" while adding that it cannot claim its territorial sea. The US has insisted on the "freedom of the seas" while its warship have passed through the South China Sea and the Taiwan Straits angering China. US secretary of state Antony Blinken had earlier said that China continues to "coerce" and "intimidate" Southeast Asian coastal states. "Nowhere is the rules-based maritime order under greater threat than in the South China Sea," the US secretary of state added. China's foreign ministry however hit back saying the United States was harming peace and stability in the region as it asked the US to stop "stirring up trouble" in the South China Sea. However, Blinken said: “We call on (China) to abide by its obligations under international law, cease its provocative behaviour, and take steps to reassure the international community that it is committed to the rules-based maritime order that respects the rights of all countries, big and small.” China has rejected the international tribunal's decision's handed out in 2016 which said that its historical claim over the South China Sea islands was without basis. (With inputs from Agencies)

'Drove away' US warship from South China Sea, claims China

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Reports suggest USS Benfold left powerless

USS Benfold lost power after an engineering failure

Chinese Navy, Air Force follow US warship in South China Sea

UK warship ignores Beijing warnings and enters the South China Sea

'Drove away' US warship from South China Sea, claims China