The Chinese military stated on Monday that a US warship illegally entered the waters adjacent to the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. A spokesperson for the Southern Theater Command of the Chinese military said in a statement, "The United States seriously undermines regional peace and stability." He added that the US deliberately stirs tensions in the South China Sea and severely violates China's sovereignty.
China is involved in disputes with several neighbors over its expansive claims in the South China Sea. The US Navy indicated that the USS Gabrielle Giffords was conducting routine operations in international waters in the South China Sea in accordance with international law. The statement said, "Every day, the US Seventh Fleet operates in the South China Sea as it has for decades. These operations demonstrate our commitment to keeping the Indo-Pacific region free and open."
In recent months, China has had several confrontations with Philippine vessels and has also protested against US ship patrols in disputed areas. The Chinese military spokesperson noted that the US ship was being monitored and tracked, and that Chinese forces in the operational theater are in a state of maximum alert to firmly defend national sovereignty.
