China said two US warships sailed near disputed islands in the South China Sea without permission on Monday in the latest US challenge to Beijing’s territorial claims in the region.
The Chinese navy asked the US vessels to leave after they entered waters adjacent to Gaven and Chigua reefs in the Spratly Islands, which Beijing calls Nansha, the foreign ministry said.
The move comes on top of trade tensions as President Donald Trump said Sunday he would raise tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods on Friday because talks were moving “too slowly”.
“The relevant actions of the US warships violated China’s sovereignty and undermined peace, security and good order in the relevant sea areas,” ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a press briefing.
“The Chinese side expresses strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition” to the operation, Geng added, noting that the ships had entered “without permission”.
The US Navy regularly conducts “freedom of navigation operations” to challenge Beijing’s vast claims in the sea.
Source: AFP
