China’s defense ministry said it had to monitor and expel the USS Milius from its territorial seas in the South China Sea near the Paracel Islands again.
“We firmly demand the U.S. to immediately halt such provocative measures, else it would suffer the catastrophic repercussions of unanticipated situations,” a Ministry of National Defence spokeswoman stated.
According to the U.S. Navy, the guided-missile destroyer claimed navigational rights and liberties.
In an email statement, the U.S. Navy 7th fleet said, “Unlawful and sweeping 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 commerce, and freedom of economic opportunity for South China Sea littoral nations.”
The Navy claimed U.S. personnel operate regularly in the South China Sea.
The two superpowers faced off for a second day amid rising South China Sea tensions.
China claims large areas that overlap with exclusive economic zones of other nations, including the Philippines. The canal transports trillions in trade annually.
