China says US Navy ship violated its sovereignty
STORY: The USS Gabrielle Giffords, seen here in Texas in 2017, is what the U.S. Navy calls an Independence-class littoral combat ship, which means it can operate closer to shorelines than other warships.
And on Monday, China's military said it illegally entered waters adjacent to a disputed South China Sea atoll that has recently seen several maritime confrontations.
A Chinese spokesperson said, "The U.S. seriously undermined regional peace and stability," adding that the U.S. disrupted the South China Sea and violated China's sovereignty.
China is in disputes with several of its neighbors over its extensive claims of territorial waters in the South China Sea.
The U.S. Navy said the USS Gabrielle Giffords was conducting routine operations in international waters in the South China Sea, consistent with international law.
The Chinese military spokesperson said the U.S. ship was monitored and followed.
The U.S. Navy responded, "we will not be deterred from continuing to work alongside our allies and partners in support of our shared vision for a free and open Indo-pacific."
In recent months, China has had several runs-ins with Philippine vessels in the South China Sea. Over the weekend, the Philippine Coast Guard shared this video it says shows hundreds of Chines maritime militia vessels gathering near reef within Manila's exclusive economic zone.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson on Monday called the Chinese vessels' behavior "reasonable and lawful," and castigated the Philippines for what it said were "irresponsible" remarks.
