Saturday, February 8, 2025
China has warned of consequences after a US warship reportedly sailed through waters claimed by Beijing in the South China Sea. The USS Gabrielle Giffords, an Independence-class littoral combat ship, sailed within 12 nautical miles of Mischief Reef, one of the disputed islands in the South China Sea.
China has claimed sovereignty over almost the entire Sea, which is a major shipping route and believed to be rich in resources. But other countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei, also claim parts of the region, leading to tensions and disputes.
A day after China said it drove a US Navy destroyer away from Beijing-claimed waters in the South China Sea, the US 7th Fleet said the same warship sailed through those waters to challenge the Chinese claims https://t.co/KTfUsMeK0P
— CNN (@CNN) March 24, 2023
In a statement, the Chinese Foreign Ministry accused the US of “provocative actions” and said it would take necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty and security. “We urge the US to stop such provocative actions immediately to avoid any unforeseeable incidents,” the statement added.
This is not the first time that the US has sailed warships in the disputed waters, but it comes at a time of increased tensions between the two countries. The US has accused China of human rights abuses in Xinjiang and Hong Kong, and of territorial aggression in the South China Sea.
The Chinese government has denied these allegations and accused the US of interference in its internal affairs. It has also accused the US of trying to contain China’s rise as a global superpower.
The incident has once again highlighted the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the waters around China, which has become a flashpoint for international relations. It remains to be seen how China will respond to the US’s latest action, but the situation is likely to escalate further if both sides continue to assert their claims in the region.
In conclusion, the US’s actions in the South China Sea have once again sparked tensions with China, which has warned of consequences. As the two countries continue to clash over territorial disputes and human rights, the situation in the South China Sea remains volatile and unpredictable.
Conversation