South China Sea: Beijing protests after US warship sails near disputed area
Such a move severely
undermines China's sovereignty and security: Chinese Foreign Ministry
LATEST
NEWS : Beijing
on Friday protested against a US warship passing through waters near the
Spratly Islands, a disputed area in the South
China Sea.
The USS John S. McCain on Thursday entered the waters near
Mishchief Reef in the Spratly Islands to carry out freedom of navigation
operations in the area, reports Efe news.
"Such a move severely undermines China's sovereignty
and security, and severely endangers the safety of frontline personnel of both
sides," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said in a
statement.
He added that the Chinese navy identified the US warship,
issued a warning and finally expelled it from the area, without giving further
details.
Geng said China "has indisputable sovereignty over the
Nansha Islands (Spratly) and their adjacent waters", and called for a
dialogue between Beijing and the governments of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations member countries to solve the maritime dispute.
"It is clear who is not willing to see stability in the
South China Sea and who is the major factor pushing for militarisation in the
South China Sea," the spokesperson said.
Attracted by the strategic military location and the
prospect of oil, China, Taiwan, Brunei, the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam
have all laid territorial claim to the Spratly's and have occupied several
islands.
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