China’s military said it deployed forces to track the USS Charleston near Sabina Shoal on Oct. 20; EconoTimes previously covered China’s tracking claim and Manila’s response.
Sabina Shoal is part of the Spratly Islands, which China calls Nansha Qundao. China and the Philippines both claim the shoal; Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also claim all or part of the wider island group.
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command said the U.S. littoral combat ship entered waters next to Xianbin Jiao, China’s name for the reef, without Beijing’s approval. It said Chinese naval forces tracked the vessel.
The command described the patrol as a challenge to Beijing’s claims and said it could undermine safety at sea. It urged Washington to stop similar operations.
The command said Chinese forces would maintain heightened readiness to protect the country’s sovereignty and security. It also said it would continue efforts to uphold China’s territorial claims and regional stability.
