China said it tracked a U.S. warship near Sabina Shoal on Oct. 20, while the Philippines rejected its trespass allegation, underscoring conflicting claims in the South China Sea.
The People’s Liberation Army Southern Theater Command Navy said it deployed forces to monitor the USS Charleston, a littoral combat ship. The command alleged that the vessel entered waters near the shoal in the Spratly Islands early Oct. 20 without China’s approval. It also accused the United States of infringing Chinese sovereign rights and putting maritime security at risk.
A Philippine military spokesperson rejected China’s authority to approve transit through international waters and denied that the Charleston had crossed into Chinese territory.
China and the Philippines both claim Sabina Shoal. The Philippines has a mutual defense treaty with the United States.
In September, the Philippine Coast Guard accused a Chinese vessel of striking one of its boats during a refueling mission near the shoal. China blamed the Philippine side for that collision.
The Chinese command urged the United States to end such operations.
