China’s military asserted on Monday that a U.S. Navy ship entered waters adjacent to the disputed Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, sparking allegations of an “illegal” incursion. A spokesperson for China’s Southern Theater of Operations stated that the U.S. had seriously undermined regional peace and stability, disrupting the South China Sea and violating China’s sovereignty.
China is entangled in territorial disputes with neighboring countries over its expansive claims in the South China Sea.
The U.S. Navy responded, asserting that the USS Gabrielle Giffords, an Independence-class littoral combat ship, was engaged in routine operations within international waters in the South China Sea, aligning with international law. The statement emphasized the U.S. commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region through regular operations in the South China Sea.
In recent months, China has encountered Philippine vessels, and tensions have risen over U.S. ships patrolling contested areas. According to the Chinese military, the U.S. ship encroached on waters near the Renai Reef, also known as Second Thomas Shoal, part of the Spratly Islands. A 2016 United Nations tribunal ruling recognized the Second Thomas Shoal as lying within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
The Chinese military spokesperson reported monitoring and following the U.S. ship, emphasizing that China’s forces in the theater are on high alert to defend national sovereignty. In response, the U.S. Navy asserted its determination to continue working with allies and partners for a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard deployed two vessels in the South China Sea on Sunday, responding to an “alarming” increase in Chinese maritime militia vessels at a reef within the country’s exclusive economic zone.
