China claims US cruise ship ‘entered’ its waters, Navy calls accusation ‘false’

China’s military claimed on Tuesday that a US guided-missile cruiser “entered” its waters near the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, although the US Navy dismissed the claims as to “false”.

“The guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville entered the waters adjacent to the islands and reefs of China’s Spratly Islands without the approval of the Chinese government,” China’s defense ministry said, adding that the headquarters “Southern Theater Command organized air and naval forces to follow up.” monitor and notify”.

A US amphibious assault vehicle passes the Philippine Navy frigate Ramon Alcaraz during the amphibious landing as part of a joint US-Philippines military exercise at Training Camp Beach in the Philippine Navy in San Antonio, Zambales province northwest of Manila on May 9, 2018.
(TED ALJIBE/AFP via Getty Images)

US NAVY STORM ON BEACH NEAR DISPUTED REEF IN SOUTH CHINA SEA JOINT MILITARY EXERCISES

The spokesman for the Southern Theater Command, Air Force Senior Colonel Tian Junli, stated that the cruiser “seriously violated China’s sovereignty and security.”

The US Navy rejected China’s claims of “illegal conduct” and said it was acting within its rights under international law and was conducting a freedom of navigation operation in the South China Sea. South China, where he has accused China of trying to restrict “innocent passage”.

“Widespread and illegal maritime claims in the South China Sea pose a serious threat to the freedom of the seas, including the freedoms of navigation and overflight, free trade and unimpeded trade,” the Navy said in a communicated

Sabina Shoal, also known as Escoda Shoal, Spratly Islands, West Philippine Sea.
(Gallo Images/Orbital Horizon/Sentinel Copernicus 2021 data)

US EMBASSY WARNING IN CHINA, SIGNALS OF LOCKDOWN LIKELY TO INTENSIFY AMID PROTESTS

The US military argued that maintaining freedom of the seas was crucial to ensuring stability, global security and economic inclusion.

Ownership of the Spratly Islands is disputed with China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei claiming some or all of the regional islands and reefs.

The U.S. Navy argued that international law dictates that “ships of all states, including their warships, enjoy the right of innocent passage,” and the U.S. does not need to seek permission from any nation to use the waterway

This photo taken on Oct. 16, 2019 shows U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets multirole fighters and an EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan as it sails through the China Sea Southern on its way. in singapore
(CATHERINE LAI/AFP via Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“By engaging in an innocent step without prior notice or permission from any of the claimants, the United States defied illegal restrictions imposed by the PRC, Taiwan and Vietnam,” the statement continued, noting that US forces operate in the area on a daily basis.

“The United States defends the right of all nations to fly, sail and operate wherever permitted by international law, as the USS Chancellorsville did here,” the Navy said. “Nothing the PRC says otherwise will deter us.”