Tensions in the South China Sea have exploded after Beijing claimed to have intercepted what it called a “trespassing” US Destroyer in the region.
The ship reportedly sailed 12 nautical miles of Huangyan Island, also known as the Scarborough Shoal on Wednesday night.
China claims the majority of the South China Sea – something not recognised by the US and its allies as well as numerous other nations that lay claim to parts of the crucial waterway.
Posting on the Chinese social media site Weibo, China’s Southern Theatre said: “On May 10, the USS Halsey guided-missile destroyer, without the approval of the Chinese government [and] after illegally intruding into China’s Xisha territorial waters, the Southern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army organized naval and air forces to track and monitor them in accordance with laws and regulations and warn them to leave.
“The US’s actions seriously violate China’s sovereignty and security.”
Upon spotting the US destroyer, a Chinese ship reportedly “immediately took actions to identify and verify the US ship and drove it away by warning”, according to China’s Defense Ministry.
Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian also said that the Chinese government hopes the US “do not make trouble out of nothing.”
Beijing accused Washington of being a “security risk creator” and attempting to “militarise the South China Sea”. China claimed its forces were on “high alert” following the incident.
The South China Sea plays a crucial role in shipping routes, as approximately one-third of global shipping goes through its waters. It is also known to have rich fishing grounds and potential oil and gas reserves.
Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Taiwan also have claims in the South China Sea in addition to the Chinese government.