The media has already reported that in the Peter the Great Bay, the large anti-submarine ship "Admiral Vinogradov" of the Pacific fleet threatened the American missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) ("John McCain") with a RAM if it does not leave the territorial waters of Russia. In response, the US Navy's 7th fleet command issued a statement saying that the destroyer "confirmed the rights and freedoms of navigation by challenging Russia's excessive Maritime claims" in the area.
After the American ship with guided missiles went to neutral waters, a message was published by the command of the US 7th fleet: "On November 24, the USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) confirmed the rights and freedoms of navigation in the area of Peter the Great Bay in the sea of Japan." "This freedom of navigation operation (FONOP) protects the rights, freedoms and lawful use of the sea recognized in international law by challenging Russia's excessive Maritime claims," the military Department said.
The Americans refer to a 1984 document according to which"the USSR declared a system of straight baselines along its coasts, including a straight baseline bounding Peter the Great Bay, as declared internal waters."
"This 106-nautical-mile closure line is incompatible with international law as reflected in The Maritime Convention on the protection of the waters of the Gulf. Having drawn this final line, the USSR attempted to claim more internal waters and territorial sea further from the coast than it has the right to claim under international law. Russia continued to claim the USSR, " the Navy command said.
It is noted that "by conducting this operation, the United States demonstrated that these waters are not a territorial sea of Russia and that the United States does not agree with Russia's claims that Peter the Great Bay is a historical Bay in accordance with international law."