MOSCOW – Russia on Friday accused a US naval ship of carrying out adangerous manoeuvre by sailing within 50 metres of a Russian naval vesselin the East China Sea.
The USS Chancellorsville guided-missile cruiser suddenly turned earlyFriday while sailing alongside Russia’s Admiral Vinogradov anti-submarineship, and cut across the course of the Russian vessel, Interfax news agencyreported, citing the press service of Russia’s Pacific Fleet.
The ships passed at a distance of just 50 metres (164 feet), the fleet said.
The Russian ship had to carry out an emergency manoeuvre to avoidcollision, the navy said, adding that it had sent a message of protest tothe US cruiser’s commanders.
Admiral Viktor Kravchenko, Russia’s former navy chief of staff, accused theUS of “hooliganism” in comments to Interfax news agency.
Russia and the US regularly accuse each other of carrying out dangerousnaval or aerial manoeuvres.
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In June 2016, Moscow and Washington traded accusations after their navalships sailed closely past each other in the eastern Mediterranean.
A month later, the US accused Russia of “aggressive” and “erratic” moves byone of its warships in the same waters.
The two countries also regularly complain over each other’s militaryplanes flying too close to their airspace.
In May, US fighters intercepted six Russian military aircraft ininternational airspace west of Alaska, and shadowed them until they exitedthe area. -APP/AFP
