China says US warship entered waters near Xianbin Reef; Southern Theater Command responds
In short
China's Southern Theater Command Navy said a US littoral combat ship, the Charleston, entered waters near Xianbin Reef (仙宾礁) in the Nansha Islands (南沙群岛) in the early hours of 20 October without Chinese government permission. It said its forces tracked and monitored the ship and called on the US to stop such activities.
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The Southern Theater Command Navy of the Chinese People's Liberation Army said a US littoral combat ship, the Charleston, entered waters near Xianbin Reef in the Nansha Islands in the early hours of 20 October without the permission of the Chinese government. The navy said it organised forces to track and monitor the ship in accordance with laws and regulations. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
The statement said China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and nearby waters. It said the US action infringes China's sovereign rights and interests, threatens maritime security and does not help regional peace and stability, and that the US should immediately stop the activities. It added that theater forces remain on high alert to defend national sovereignty and security and to maintain regional peace and stability. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Jiemian attributed the statement to Southern Theater Command Navy spokesperson Senior Captain Yin Gang (尹刚), and Yicai published a headline about a statement by the same spokesperson. China News Service said its report was based on a message from the WeChat official account of the Southern Fleet (南海舰队). None of the documents carries a US response. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The reports carry the Chinese military's account of a dispute over sovereignty claims in the Nansha Islands. The documents give no US response, so only China's position is on record.
Key facts
- The Southern Theater Command Navy of the Chinese People's Liberation Army said the US littoral combat ship Charleston entered waters near Xianbin Reef in the Nansha Islands in the early hours of 20 October. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- The statement said the ship did so without the permission of the Chinese government. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- The Southern Theater Command Navy said it organised forces to track and monitor the ship in accordance with laws and regulations. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- The statement said China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and nearby waters, and that the US action infringes China's sovereign rights and interests, threatens maritime security and does not help regional peace and stability. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- The statement called on the US to stop the activities immediately and said theater forces remain on high alert. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Jiemian attributed the statement to Southern Theater Command Navy spokesperson Senior Captain Yin Gang (尹刚). [ 4 ]
- China News Service said the information came from the WeChat official account of the Southern Fleet (南海舰队). [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Southern Theater Command Navy said the US littoral combat ship Charleston entered waters near Xianbin Reef in the Nansha Islands in the early hours of 20 October without Chinese government permission, and that Chinese naval forces tracked and monitored it. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- The Southern Theater Command Navy spokesperson issued a statement on the matter. [ 2 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- The US position and account of the ship's movements. None of the documents includes a US response or any non-Chinese account; all describe the Chinese military's statement.
- The exact time and position of the ship's entry and how long it stayed. The documents say only that it happened in the early hours of 20 October near Xianbin Reef.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- CLS reported the Southern Theater Command's response. [ 1 ]
- Yicai published a headline on a statement by Southern Theater Command Navy spokesperson Yin Gang. [ 2 ]
- China News Service reported the statement, citing the Southern Fleet WeChat account. [ 3 ]
- Jiemian published the statement, attributing it to Yin Gang. [ 4 ]