'Severely undermined peace': Chinese ship confronts US destroyer in chilling face off in South China Sea
The Chinese military said it monitored and "drove away" a US destroyer sailing near the disputed Scarborough Shoal, while the US Navy said its action was in line with international law.
The Chinese military's Southern Theatre Command said USS Higgins had entered waters 'without approval of the Chinese government' and they then 'expelled' the ship from the area.
"The US move seriously violated China's sovereignty and security, severely undermined peace and stability in the South China Sea," it added, vowing to maintain a "high alert at all times".
The US Navy's Seventh Fleet responded to China's statement regarding the mission is 'false'.
'Higgins had asserted navigational rights and freedoms near the Scarborough Shoal consistent with international law,' the statement said.
"The United States is defending its right to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows, as USS Higgins did here. Nothing China says otherwise will deter us."
The US regularly carries out 'freedom of navigation' operations in the South China Sea.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea - overlapping the private economic zones of Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.
Disputes over ownership of various islands have festered for years, with the Scarborough Shoal being a significant source of tension. The Shoal is a strategic conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce.
The incident was the first of its kind since 2022 when a PLA warship confronted US destroyer, the USS Benfold, near the Paracels – another disputed island in the South China Sea.
Meanwhile, a Chinese navy ship collided with its own coast guard vessel while chasing a Philippine Patrol boat in the South China Sea on Monday.
The Philippines' Coast Guard reported it was escorting boats distributing aid near the contested Scarborough Shoal when the incident occurred.
Footage released by Manila shows the collision leaving the smaller Chinese boat severely damaged.
The Australian embassy in Manila expressed concerned over the incident, saying in a statement the dangerous manoeuvres leading to the collision "highlights the need for de-escalation, restraint and respect for international law".
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