China firmly opposes US provocation in its territorial waters: defense ministry

China resolutely opposes two US warships trespassing into China's territorial waters off the Xisha Islands, said a Ministry of National Defense spokesperson on May 27.

Without the permission of the Chinese government, the two US warships trespassed into China's territorial waters off the Xisha Islands on May 27, spokesperson Wu Qian said. The Chinese navy dispatched vessels and aircrafts immediately to identify, warn and expel them.

The Xisha Islands have been China's inherent territory, said Wu, who added that China has announced the baseline of the territorial waters off the Xisha Islands in 1996 in accordance with the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone.

The US provocation by sending warships to trespass into China's territorial waters violated Chinese and relevant international laws, seriously violated China's sovereignty, damaged the strategic mutual trust between militaries of the two countries, and undermined peace, security and good orders of the waters, said Wu.

China will firmly strengthen the combat readiness of its navy and air forces, enhance its defense ability, safeguard its national sovereignty and security, and maintain regional peace and stability, Wu said.

Foreign ministry: China opposes US provocation in its territorial waters

China on May 27 voiced strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to two US warships trespassing into China's territorial waters off the Xisha Islands.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said in a statement released on May 27 night that the US warships trespassed into China's territorial waters off the Xisha Islands on May 27 without permission of the Chinese government, and the Chinese navy identified the U.S. warships, warned and expelled them.

The Xisha Islands are China's inherent territory, Lu said, noting that in accordance with the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone, the Chinese government promulgated the baseline of the territorial sea off the Xisha Islands in 1996.

The relevant Chinese law has explicit provisions on foreign military vessels' entry into the territorial sea of China, Lu said.

The U.S. side once again sent warships to trespass into China's territorial waters off the Xisha Islands, an act which violated the Chinese and relevant international laws, seriously infringed upon China's sovereignty, disrupted peace, security and good order of the relevant waters.

"The Chinese side strongly urges the U.S. side to immediately stop such kind of provocative operations that violate China's sovereignty and threaten China's security," Lu said, noting that the Chinese side will continue to take all necessary measures to defend national sovereignty and security.

(Xinhua News Agency May 28, 2018)