The Chinese government has criticized the United States after one of its warships sailed in the disputed waters of the South China Sea near Panganiban (Mischief) Reef in the Spratly Islands.
Ren Guoqiang, spokesman of the Chinese Ministry of Defense, said the entry of U.S. Navy destroyer USS Mustin in what he described as waters around China’s islands and reefs “is serious political and military provocation.”
“We ask the U.S. to respect the sovereignty and security of China, respect the will of countries in the region who want peace, stability and tranquility, and not to make trouble out of nothing,” Ren was quoted as saying in a report by state-owned news wire Xinhua.
He said China firmly safeguards the freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea in accordance with international law but “resolutely opposes any illegal provocation in the name of freedom of navigation.”
The USS Mustin – a guided missile destroyer – reportedly traveled close to the disputed reef and carried out maneuvering operations.
Ren alleged that the US warship arbitrarily entered waters before two Chinese vessels identified it and warned it off.
He accused the U.S. of severely damaging the sovereignty and security of China by repeatedly sending ships in what it claims as its sovereign waters.
The Philippines, as well as other countries in the region, also claims ownership of the islands in the South China Sea.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has yet to comment on the entry of the U.S. warship in the disputed territories.
The incident happened even as China confirmed the conduct of combat drills in the region.
A statement released in the Ministry of Defense’s website said the drills are part of the implementation of the training mobilization order of recently reelected President Xi Jinping.
“It is a routine arrangement within the People’s Liberation Army-Navy’s annual plan and it aims to test and improve the troops’ training level and comprehensively enhance the capability to win,” read a statement quoting an unnamed Navy staff.
The same staff supposedly added that the drills are not aimed at any specific country or target.
