FALCON POWERS – The Southern Theater Command of the Chinese Army stated in a statement on Friday that the army had detected and “expelled” the American destroyer, USS Halsey, which entered the territorial waters of the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea on Friday.
The Chinese Army said that the American action “seriously violates China’s sovereignty and security.”
They added, “This is further conclusive evidence of the pursuit of maritime hegemony and militarization of the South China Sea,” explaining that the forces will remain in a state of extreme readiness to protect national security. The US Navy stated in a statement that the destroyer acted in accordance with its rights and freedoms of navigation in the South China Sea near the Paracel Islands, “in accordance with international law.”
The statement mentioned that the USS Halsey left the area after its operation and continued its course in the South China Sea.
The confrontation comes amid escalating tensions in the South China Sea, with the Philippines, a US ally, being involved in a diplomatic dispute with Beijing over the disputed waters in the region. Beijing claims sovereignty over vast areas of the South China Sea, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 ruled that China’s claims had no legal basis.
