Kathrine Frich
China’s statement accused the US of “seriously” violating its sovereignty.
China’s statement accused the US of “seriously” violating its sovereignty.
China Says It ‘Drove Away’ US Destroyer
Beijing claims it warned and “sent away” the USS Higgins after the destroyer sailed near Scarborough Shoal.
The Chinese defense ministry accused the US of entering “China’s territorial waters off Huangyan Island without the approval of the Chinese government.”
Scarborough Shoal, called Huangyan Island in China, is claimed by both China and the Philippines.
Accusations of Sovereignty Violation
China’s statement accused the US of “seriously” violating its sovereignty.
Officials said the destroyer’s presence “seriously undermines peace and stability in the South China Sea and violates international law and basic norms.”
Washington has not issued an immediate comment on the incident.
USS Higgins and the Seventh Fleet
The USS Higgins is part of the U.S. Seventh Fleet, based in Yokosuka, Japan.
It frequently operates in contested areas as part of US freedom of navigation missions.
The destroyer has previously been involved in similar South China Sea patrols.
Tensions Amid Broader US–China Strains
The encounter comes during ongoing trade and political disputes between Washington and Beijing.
In March, China warned it was ready for “a trade war or any other type of war” with the US before relations cooled slightly.
Military friction in the region continues to test diplomacy.
China’s Expansive South China Sea Claims
Beijing asserts control over almost the entire South China Sea under its “nine-dash line” policy.
This claim was rejected by a 2016 international tribunal ruling, which said it had “no legal or historical basis.”
China continues to reject the verdict.
History of Clashes With the Philippines
Philippine officials say Chinese ships have stalked their vessels and used lasers to target patrol aircraft.
Clashes have involved collisions, water cannon attacks, and injuries to Filipino sailors.
Manila continues to push back against Beijing’s maritime actions.
