United States Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Chafee, on October 10, sailed close to Chinese-controlled area of the disputed Paracel Islands in South China Sea.
This move by the US Navy was strongly protested by the Chinese government.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying also said that Chinese naval ships and fighter planes were deployed to “identify and verify the US warship according to law and warn and expel it.”
Vietnam, China, and Taiwan all have overlapping claims in Paracel Islands.
She added that the US warship “violated the Chinese law and relevant international law, severely undermined China’s sovereignty and security interests, put in jeopardy the life safety of the frontline personnel from both sides.”
“China is firmly opposed to this and has lodged serious representation with the US side,” she said.