China says US warship illegally entered its territory found in South China Sea
20 May, 2021
China said on Thursday (May 20) that a USA warship illegally entered its territorial waters found in the South China Sea, the most recent salvo in the two nations' dispute more than Beijing's territorial claims found in the busy waterway.
In a statement, the Chinese military's Southern Theater Command said that the USS Curtis Wilbur entered the waters near to the Paracel Islands without permission, adding that its ships and planes followed the US vessel.
It added that China opposed the US actions, which violated its sovereignty and undermined regional peace and stability.
The claim comes a day after China accused the US of threatening peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait after the USS Curtis Wilbur sailed through the waterway that separates Taiwan from its giant neighbour.
The US Navy's Seventh Fleet said that the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer conducted a "routine Taiwan Strait transit" on Tuesday in accordance with international law.
"The ship's transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the US dedication to a free of charge and open Indo-Pacific. AMERICA military will continue to fly, sail, and operate everywhere international legislation allows," it said.
A good spokesman for China's Eastern Theater Order expressed solid opposition and condemned the approach.
"The US actions send the incorrect signals to Taiwan independence forces, deliberately disrupting the regional circumstances and endangering peace and steadiness across the Taiwan Strait," he said.
China believes Taiwan's democratically elected federal government is bent on a formal declaration of independence for the island, a red brand for Beijing.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen says they already are an unbiased state called the Republic of China.
Taiwan's Defence Ministry stated the US ship had sailed in a southerly direction through the strait and the "situation was while normal".
The US Navy has been conducting such operations every month roughly.
The United States, like the majority of countries, does not have any formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, but is its most significant international backer and a significant seller of arms to the island.
Armed service tension between Taiwan and Beijing have spiked in the last year, with Taipei complaining of China repeatedly sending its air force into Taiwan's air defence zone.
Some of these activities may involve multiple fighters and bombers.
China has said its activities around Taiwan are targeted at protecting China's sovereignty. Taiwan's government offers denounced it as attempts at intimidation.
Source: