© Getty ImagesUSS Barry
The Chinese People's Liberation Army said the Navy vessel had been expelled from the oil-rich stretch of water after entering Chinese waters, and called on the US to instead focus on its "national epidemic situation," referring to the coronavirus crisis which originated in China.
"The provocative actions of the United States seriously violated relevant international law norms, seriously violated China's sovereignty and security interests, artificially increased regional security risks, and were prone to cause unexpected incidents," Huamin said in a statement.
Tensions have been high in the region over the past month, with a dispute between Malaysia and China over oil drawing US, Chinese and Australian warships.
The waters have immense strategic value, carrying over $3 trillion in trade every year and believed to hold immense gas and oil reserve, with China, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan, Vietnam and the Philippines all making competing territorial claims in the region.
A new report published Friday says Communist Chinese authorities are also expected to suppress more pro-Democracy protests in Hong Kong as demonstrators plan to return to the streets following the coronavirus pandemic.
Officials in Beijing are demanding Hong Kong enact national security measures which would ban "treason" and uprisings against the Communist Chinese government like those which have roiled the administrative region since last June, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Thousands of pro-Democracy protesters have been arrested in the mass rallies over Chinese influence in the region, which had been brought to a standstill by the demonstrations.
Reader Comments
to our Newsletter