The PRC did not like where the American ship passed.
China has accused the United States of violating its sovereignty after the US Navy destroyer Gabriel Giffords appeared near the Second Thomas Shoal, an underwater reef in the South China Sea.
Bloomberg reports this.
The Chinese military said in a statement that the appearance of the US Navy destroyer seriously violated China's sovereignty and security.
The military added that the littoral combat ship “undermined regional peace and stability” by “demonstrating that the United States is the greatest threat to peace and stability” in the region.
US Seventh Fleet Commander Megan Green said the US ship was “conducting routine operations in international waters” that complied with international law.
“We will remain undeterred in continuing to work together with our allies and partners in support of our shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific,” she added.
While U.S. officials said China agreed to policy discussions with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during the Xi-Biden meeting, Beijing has yet to name a nominee to replace ousted Defense Secretary Li Shangfu. The continued lack of communication increases the risk that the South China Sea incident could escalate into conflict.
Let us recall that on November 25, China announced that its military had ousted the American destroyer USS Hopper, which allegedly illegally entered the country’s territorial waters in the South China Sea. In turn, Washington emphasized that their ship acted in accordance with international law.
“The United States supports freedom of navigation for all nations as a principle. As long as some nations continue to assert restrictions on rights that exceed their authority under international law, the United States will continue to defend the rights and freedoms of the seas guaranteed to all. No member of the international community should be intimidated or force them to renounce their rights and freedoms,” said the press service of the US 7th Fleet.
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