China’s military: US Navy ship ‘illegally’ entered territorial waters

On Monday, the Chinese military announced that a ship belonging to the United States Navy had unlawfully entered seas that are next to the Second Thomas Shoal, which is an atoll in the South China Sea that has been the site of multiple maritime conflicts in recent times.

An official spokesman for China’s Southern Theater of Operations issued a statement in which they stated, “The United States has seriously undermined regional peace and stability.” The statement also stated that the United States had disrupted the South China Sea and infringed on China’s sovereignty.

There are disagreements between China and a number of its neighbors about China’s vast claims to territorial seas in the South China Sea.

According to the United States Navy, the littoral combat ship USS Gabrielle Giffords of the Independence-class was carrying out routine operations in international seas in the South China Sea by international law.

The United States Navy stated that “every day, the United States Seventh Fleet operates in the South China Sea, as they have for decades.” “These operations demonstrate we are committed to upholding a free and open Indo-Pacific region.”

During the past several months, China has been involved in many collisions with Philippine warships and has voiced its disapproval of American ships patrolling disputed territories.

An American ship reportedly traveled into seas close to what China refers to as the Renai Reef, also referred to as the Second Thomas Shoal and a component of the Spratly Islands. The Chinese military provided this information. The Second Thomas Shoal is located inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, according to a 2016 ruling by a United Nations tribunal.

The spokeswoman for the Chinese military stated that the United States ship was under surveillance and was being followed. Additionally, the spokesperson stated that China’s “troops in the theater are on high alert at all times to resolutely defend national sovereignty.”

“We will not be deterred from continuing to work alongside our allies and partners in support of our shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the United States Navy stated.

Following an “alarming” increase in Chinese maritime militia vessels near a reef located within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines, the Philippine Coast Guard sent two of its vessels to the South China Sea on Sunday.