China Strongly Condemns US for Sending Warship to South China Sea

The destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur passed within 12 nautical miles of Triton Island on Saturday. China is one of three nations that claim the territory as their own.

According to Pentagon spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis, the move was aimed at the protection of freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.

The Defense Ministry of China strongly condemned the move on Saturday, urging the US "not to continue down the wrong path" and warned that otherwise China will take all necessary measures according to the situation, Sputnik News reported on Sunday.

"US actions severely violated Chinese law and sabotaged the peaceful, safe and good order in relevant waters and is not beneficial to regional peace and stability," said a spokesman for the Chinese Defense Ministry, Yang Yujun.

He added that no matter what provocations the US side may take, Chinese armed forces will take whatever measures are necessary to safeguard China's sovereignity and security.

Earlier on Saturday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said the US warship entered the territorial waters of China illegally, stressing that foreign warships are required to obtain permission from the Chinese Government,  according to the relevant provision of the Law of the People's Republic of China.

The Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said the Chinese side took appropriate action against the American ships in accordance with the law, taking it under surveillance and alerting the crew.

China and some countries in the region, including Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines, disagree over maritime boundaries and areas of responsibility in the South China and East China seas. China believes that a number of countries such as the Philippines and Vietnam deliberately used US support to escalate tensions in the region.