China Warned U.S. Warship Challenging Its South China Sea Claims
- Says USS Dewey trespassed into territory, undermining security
- U.S. reportedly conducted freedom of navigation operation
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China’s government warned a U.S. warship to leave waters around a reef it claims in the South China Sea, saying the vessel was trespassing on its territory and undermining security in the region.
The U.S. warship entered waters adjacent to the Spratly islands, an area where China has “indisputable sovereignty,” defense ministry spokesman Ren Guoqiang said at a briefing in Beijing on Thursday. China “identified, tracked, verified and warned off the ship."