In Beijing, China’s military stated on Monday that a US warship unlawfully entered the waters near the Second Thomas Shoal, a contested atoll in the South China Sea. A representative from China’s Southern Theater of Operations denounced the US action, citing it as a serious disruption to regional peace and stability.
The spokesperson also accused the US of deliberately causing disturbance in the South China Sea and violating China’s sovereignty. China is engaged in territorial disputes with multiple neighboring countries regarding its expansive claims over the South China Sea’s territorial waters.
Recent months have witnessed several incidents involving Philippine vessels and China, with the latter also expressing objection to US naval patrols in the disputed regions.
The spokesperson highlighted that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army had dispatched naval forces to track and monitor the US ship, emphasizing that their troops in the theater are consistently on high alert to steadfastly safeguard national sovereignty.
On Sunday, the Philippine Coast Guard deployed two of its vessels in the South China Sea due to an observed “alarming” surge in the presence of Chinese maritime militia vessels at a reef within the country’s exclusive economic zone.
Source: Reuters
