Like I've already said, innocent passage have specific protocols to follow. For example you can't launch on board helicopter, you can't turn on your radar etc. Unless the US specifically stated it is exercising innocent passage, the chance are that it is not.
Chinese naval vessels on the other hand are transiting through the Bering Strait, which according to UNCLOS on Straits, is called transit passage, which has less restrictive requirements than innocent passage. The two actions are actually very different legally speaking. And you know what's the biggest difference between the two? That innocent passage can be suspended by the costal state while transit passage cannot be.
Read the definition of international waterway in your own post.
In International Law, international waterways are straits, canals, and rivers that connect two areas of the high seas or enable ocean shipping to reach interior ports on international seas, gulfs, or lakes that otherwise would be land-locked. International waterways also may be rivers that serve as international boundaries or traverse successively two or more states. Ships have a right of passage through international waterways.
The South China Sea by definition does not fall into the category of international waterway, or you can designate the entire world's ocean as international waterway. The below article is the only relevant restriction on artificial structures that it should not interfere with the use of recognized sea lanes. It is designed for narrow waterway and can't certainly be applied to vast sea, as I have yet to see anyone use that article as a justification against the Chinese construction.
Article 60
Artificial islands, installations and structures in the exclusive economic zone
7. Artificial islands, installations and structures and the safety zones around them may not be established where interference may be caused to the use of recognized sea lanes essential to international navigation.
OMG........You are still arguing an imagine stuff
I NEVER SAID....
Let me dumb it down for you in point, so even you would understand
1.) I Never said SCS is international waterway
2.) SCS is located within International Water (High Seas), intercepting EEZ between China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Philippine
3.) International Waterway is not equal to International Water (High Seas)
4.) Panama Canal is an International Waterway.
5.) International Waterways share the same rights with International Water (High Seas) as per UNCLOS
6.) International Water and International Waterways must remain permanently neutral and demilitarize
7.) I used the Panama Canal example to illustrate why it is wrong to build Military Structure in International Water and International Waterways.
8.) Chinese is militarize the SCS, this is what violating the UNCLOS
9.) As I said many time before, if you are confused about why I use panama canal as an example, I can use Principality of Zealand as an example. to illustrate why it was violating UNCLOS.
There, I never said SCS is international waterways. I used Panama Canal as an example to illustrate why you cannot build Military Structure on any
INTERNAIONAL WATER (Be it High Seas, International Waterway, Exclusive Economic Zone or even Contagious Zone)
If you still do not understand what I said, then I can't help you.
Isn't that exactly what I've said? The freedom to construct artificial islands and other installations are permitted by international law.
No, you cannot reclaim something that does not belong to you. Hence when a location is on High Seas, they have too be remain neutral. The question is, only China see the island belong to China (Hence within 12Nm Territorial Water) where Other country (Vietnam, Philippine, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore) all have overlapping EEZ within SCS. So, as per UNCLOS, it would be considered as a High Seas, unless challenged otherwise. (Because if Chinese claim would have valid, then the island would also lies within all other country territorial water.)
China can, either challenge the definition, or leave UNCLOS unilaterally to resolve the problem, as I said many time, you cannot have both.
The high seas are open to all States, whether coastal or land-locked. Freedom of the high seas is exercised under the conditions laid down by this Convention and by other rules of international law. It comprises, inter alia, both for coastal and land-locked States:
(a) freedom of navigation;
(b) freedom of overflight;
(c) freedom to lay submarine cables and pipelines, subject to Part VI;
(d) freedom to construct artificial islands and other installations permitted under international law, subject to Part VI;
(e) freedom of fishing, subject to the conditions laid down in section 2;
(f) freedom of scientific research, subject to Parts VI and XIII.
US simply includes all military activities as navigation which China disagrees, at least in its near shore.
Again, this is how UNCLOS works, you either leave, like the US, if you did not agree to the term, or bitch about it and stay in UNCLOS and conform to it's rules, you cannot do both.