China has condemned the recent sailing of a US warship near territory that it claims in the South China Sea, insisting that it is “resolutely opposed” to what Washington calls “freedom of navigation” patrols.
“China’s military is resolutely opposed to this,” the Defense Ministry said on Tuesday, referring to the so-called freedom of navigation patrols and the latest such maneuver by the US near the Spratly Islands.
The Ministry said Chinese armed forces would continue to take all the necessary measures to protect China’s sovereignty and security.
“The US side repeatedly sends military ships without permission into seas close to South China Seas islands, seriously threatening China’s sovereignty and security, seriously damaging Sino-US military ties, and seriously harming regional peace and stability,” the ministry said.
The development came after an unnamed US official said the USS Decatur guided-missile destroyer had…