Chinese officials on Wednesday filed a public complaint after a Bath-built U.S. Navy destroyer challenged Chinese territorial claims in the South China Sea.
In response, the USS Chafee was greeted by Chinese ships and fighter planes.
Two U.S. officials confirmed the basic details of the operation, USNI reported Thursday, and said that during the “freedom of navigation” operation, the USS Chafee (DDG 90) destroyer did not come within 12 nautical miles, the internationally recognized territory, of the island chain, but did cross a disputed Chinese territorial line around the entire island chain.
The USS Chafee, launched from Bath Iron Works in November 2002, entered China’s territorial sea off the Xisha [Paracel] Islands without China’s approval, USNI quoted Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Hua Chunying as saying. China immediately sent naval ships and fighter planes “to identify and verify the U.S. warship according to law and warn and expel it,” the spokeswoman reportedly said.
Officials told Reuters the ship challenged “excessive maritime claims” near the Paracel Islands.
“China will continue to take resolute measures to protect Chinese sovereign territory and maritime interests,” Chunying said earlier Wednesday. “China urges the U.S. to conscientiously respect China’s sovereign territory and security interests, conscientiously respect the efforts regional countries have made to protect peace and stability in the South China Sea, and stop these wrong actions.”