Chinese military says warned US warship to leave South China Sea

China’s military says it monitored and drove away a US warship that had illegally entered waters around the South China Sea.

The military said on Thursday that US guided-missile destroyer Milius illegally intruded into China’s territorial waters, around the Paracel Islands.

“The theater forces will maintain a high state of alert at all times and take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and security and peace and stability in the South China Sea," said Tian Junli, a spokesman for China's Southern Theater Command.

The incident happened amid growing tensions in the region with the rise of Washington’s military activities in the Asia-Pacific.

The "intrusion" comes after the US launched anti-submarine drills with Canada, India, Japan, and South Korea on Wednesday.

The drill, dubbed Sea Dragon 23, will culminate in more than 270 hours of in-flight training “ranging from tracking simulated targets to the final problem of tracking a US Navy submarine,” the US navy said.

The US also announced earlier this month that it will hold the largest joint military exercises ever with the Philippines next month.

The drill would include, for the first time, live-fire exercises in the South China Sea and a simulated defense of a tiny Philippine island nearly 300 kilometers south of Taiwan.

China has expressed concerns over US drilling in the Asia-Pacific.

President Xi Jinping and his newly appointed Foreign Minister Qin Gang both used strong language last week, condemning the US for preserving a "Cold War mentality.”

SS