China’s Ministry of National Defense said on Tuesday, October 27 that two Chinese warships as well as naval warplanes monitored and warned the US guided missile destroyer USS Lassen as it came close to one of its artificial islands in the West Philippine sea.
Colonel Yang Yujun a senior spokesman for China’s Ministry of National Defense said “It’s an abuse of freedom of navigation,” and upon confirming that a United States warship breached inside China’s protected territories in the Spratly, they immediately dispatched its PLA Navy’s guided missile destroyer Lanzhou and the patrol ship Taizhou, made contact and issue warnings to USS Lassen sailing near Subi (Zamora) reef.
“U.S. action threatened China’s territorial rights and security, endangered the safety of personnel and facilities on the artificial island as well as that of fishery workers, and harmed regional peace and stability. Dont push us to the limit.” Yang said.
China’s navy said the “air arm” was also involved, but gave no details.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said. “If any country thinks that, through some gimmicks, they will be able to interfere with or even prevent China from engaging in reasonable, legitimate and legal activities in its own territories, I want to suggest those countries give up such fantasy,”
“In fact, if relevant parties insist on creating tensions in the region and making trouble out of nothing, it may force China to draw the conclusion that we need to strengthen and hasten the buildup of our relevant capabilities. I advise the U.S. not to create such a self-fulfilling prophecy.”
U.S. defense official said.” The U.S. guided missile destroyer USS Lassen-82 ignored the China’s warning and proceed with their mission calmly” and the PLA navy’s caution has no effect as if they never heard anything.
U.S. defense official added that the USS Lassen was shadowed and followed at a safe distance by a Chinese ship and no incidents were reported during the 72-mile (115 km) passage.
Also read this: U.S. warning to China “Make no mistake in 24 hours our destroyer will sail near artificial islands”
By: Jason E.
