The Chinese navy stated it warned a U.S. warship to “leave” waters within the disputed South China Sea on Thursday, a declare swiftly denied as “false” by American forces.
China claims sovereignty over virtually the complete South China Sea — a strategic waterway by which trillions of {dollars} in commerce move yearly — regardless of a world court docket ruling that the assertion has no authorized foundation.
The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei all have overlapping claims within the sea, whereas the United States sends naval vessels by it to say freedom of navigation in worldwide waters.
The Southern Theater Command of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) stated the USS Milius, a guided missile destroyer, on Thursday entered waters across the Paracel Islands, that are additionally claimed by Vietnam.
The PLA “organised sea and air forces to track and monitor (the ship) in accordance with the law” and “warned it to leave”, spokesman Tian Junli stated.
The vessel “made an illegal incursion into Chinese territorial waters… without permission from the Chinese government, harming peace and stability” within the area, he stated.
The U.S. navy denied the claims, telling AFP that “the PRC’s statement is false”, utilizing the acronym for the People’s Republic of China.
The vessel “is conducting routine operations in the South China Sea and was not expelled”, stated a spokesperson for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
“The United States will continue to fly, sail, and operate wherever international law allows,” the spokesperson stated.
While asserting their claims within the South China Sea, Chinese authorities lately have constructed synthetic islands, together with some with navy amenities and runways.
Regional nations have additionally accused Chinese vessels of harassing their fishing boats.
Source: www.thehindu.com