China protests ‘provocation’ after US sends two warships near South China Sea islands
The US officials said the Higgins guided-missile destroyer and the Antietam, a guided-missile cruiser, came within 12 nautical miles of the Paracel Islands, and China said it has responded to the ‘provocation’.
China’s Ministry of Defence accused the US of “serious infringement of Chinese sovereignty” after two American warships entered Chinese territorial waters and lodged protest against the provocation.
In a statement, the Chinese ministry said it has sent ships and aircraft to warn the US vessels and order them to leave, after it spotted their entrance into Chinese waters.
Two US Navy warships sailed near South China Sea islands claimed by China on Sunday, two US officials said, in a move likely to anger Beijing as US President Donald Trump seeks its continued cooperation on North Korea.
The US officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the Higgins guided-missile destroyer and the Antietam, a guided-missile cruiser, came within 12 nautical miles of the Paracel Islands, among a string of islets, reefs and shoals over which China has territorial disputes with its neighbours.
The US military vessels carried out manoeuvring operations near Tree, Lincoln, Triton and Woody islands in the Paracels, one of the officials said.
The Chinese defence ministry said the move has “undermined the strategic trust between the two countries’ military forces” but China has “unswerving” determination to safeguard its sovereignty and national security.
