US 'freedom of navigation' patrols in the South China Sea.
The US navy plans next month to carry out a second 'Freedom of Navigation' (FoN) patrol near Chinese artificial islands in the South China Sea, according to US officials, following the first patrol by the USS Lassen in the disputed Spratly Islands in October. These FoN patrols bring key legal aspects of the South China Sea dispute to a head, placing pressure on China's carefully honed position of ambiguity.
Future patrols within 12 nautical miles of Mischief Reef will affirm that artificial islands cannot generate territorial seas.
China's management of public opinion on foreign policy issues under President Xi Jinping will be tested.
Washington will attempt to minimise the impact of its FoN patrols on China-US relations.
