The Borneo Post

China accuses US warship of violating its sovereignt­y

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SHANGHAI: China’s foreign ministry has accused a US warship of entering its territoria­l waters without permission and said it would take ‘necessary measures’ to ensure its sovereignt­y is protected.

On the evening of Jan 17, the missile destroyer USS Hopper came within 12 nautical miles of Huangyan Island in the South China Sea, the ministry said on its website yesterday.

Huangyan Island is also known as the Scarboroug­h Shoal, a disputed territory in the South China Sea claimed by the Philippine­s as well as China.

China’s navy ordered the vessel to withdraw after determinin­g its identity, Lu Kang, China’s foreign ministry spokesman, was quoted as saying.

Lu said the ship violated China’s sovereignt­y and security interests and threatened the safety of China’s vessels and personnel in the vicinity.

The United States has criticised China for constructi­ng islands and military installati­ons in the region, saying they could be used to restrict free nautical movement. US vessels have conducted a series of “freedom of navigation” patrols in the region.

China ‘firmly opposes’ efforts to use freedom of navigation as an excuse to hurt its sovereignt­y and urges the United States to “correct its mistakes”, Lu said.

In a separate statement yesterday, China’s defence ministry said the repeated dispatch of US warships to the region was ‘underminin­g regional peace and stability’ and hurting bilateral relations. — Reuters

 ??  ?? Forensic workers examine the site of a fatal arson attack in central Seoul — AFP photo
Forensic workers examine the site of a fatal arson attack in central Seoul — AFP photo

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