中国戦艦、南シナ海で米艦の航路阻む 緊急回避で米抗議
米ミサイル巡洋艦カウペンスが南シナ海で今月上旬、中国初の空母「遼寧」の近くを航行していた中国海軍の軍艦に航路を阻まれ、緊急回避行動をとっていたことが１３日わかった。米国務省は「ハイレベルの問題として中国政府に問題提起した」としている。
米軍の準機関紙スターズ・アンド・ストライプスなどによると、５日に南シナ海の公海上を航行していたカウペンスに対し、遭遇した中国の揚陸艦が警告を発し、停船を求めた。カウペンスが応じなかったところ、中国艦が航路の前方を遮り、カウペンスが急に針路を変更して衝突を回避したという。
米軍当局者はロイター通信に「事故を避けるため、最高レベルの操縦技術と艦船同士の連絡が必要だった」と述べ、緊迫した状況だったと明らかにした。
【ワシントン＝奥寺淳】
(朝日新聞社提供)
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