U.S. Warship Intrudes Near Xianbin Reef in China's Spratly Islands, Southern Theater Command Responds
In the early morning of October 20, the U.S. Littoral Combat Ship "Charleston" intruded into the waters near Xianbin Reef in the Spratly Islands without the permission of the Chinese government. The Southern Theater Command Navy of the People's Liberation Army organized forces to track and monitor it in accordance with the law. China has indisputable sovereignty over the Spratly Islands and their adjacent waters. The actions of the U.S. side infringe upon China's sovereign rights and interests, threaten maritime security, and are detrimental to regional peace and stability. The U.S. side should immediately cease related activities. The theater forces maintain a high level of readiness at all times to defend national sovereignty and security and to uphold regional peace and stability.
The USS Charleston, a U.S. Navy Littoral Combat Ship, intruded into the waters near Xianbin Reef on October 20 without Chinese government permission. In response, the Chinese Southern Theater Command organized forces to track and monitor the vessel, asserting China's sovereignty over the Spratly Islands and condemning the U.S. action as a threat to regional stability. Chinese forces are maintaining a high level of readiness to defend national interests.
- U.S. Navy's USS Charleston entered waters near Xianbin Reef without permission.
- Chinese Southern Theater Command tracked and monitored the U.S. vessel.
- China asserts sovereignty over the Spratly Islands and surrounding waters.
- The U.S. action is viewed as a threat to regional peace and stability.
- Chinese forces remain on high alert to defend national sovereignty.