Beijing accuses an American destroyer “seriously violated China’s sovereignty and security”

The Chinese military “repelled” the USS Halsey ship that entered the territorial waters of the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea on Friday, the Southern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army accused in a statement on Friday, Reuters and AFP report. The US emphasized that the crossing was made “in accordance with international law” under the principle of freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.

Through this penetration into the territorial waters, the US “seriously violated China’s sovereignty and security”, accuses Beijing.

“It is yet another undeniable proof of its maritime hegemony and militarization of the South China Sea,” the Chinese military charged.

Beijing has stressed that its troops will remain on high alert and protect national security to prevent further incidents of this type.

For its part, the US Navy stated in a statement that the destroyer asserted its rights and freedoms of navigation in the South China Sea, near the Paracel Islands, “in accordance with international law”, according to news.ro.

The USS Halsey left the area after this operation and continued its course through the South China Sea, the statement said.

The US Navy’s 7th Fleet had previously announced that the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Halsey conducted a “routine transit” of the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday, “through waters where freedoms of navigation and overflight apply, in compliance with international law”.

This move had also been denounced by the Chinese military, which said it was a “public unrest”, stating that it had sent naval and air forces to monitor and warn the US ship throughout its passage, “in accordance with the law and regulations “.

“Troops in the theater of operations are always on alert and will resolutely defend national sovereignty and security, as well as regional peace and stability,” the Eastern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army said in a statement.

The latest dispute between China and the US comes amid heightened tensions in the strategic South China Sea, with US ally the Philippines embroiled in a bitter diplomatic row with Beijing over disputed waters in the region.

China claims large portions of the South China Sea, including parts also claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that Beijing’s claims had no basis in international law.