US Navy destroyer is warned away

Two Chinese Navy ships identified and warned off a United States Navy destroyer on Friday that trespassed in waters surrounding China's territorial islands and reefs in the South China Sea, a Defense Ministry spokesman said.

Senior Colonel Ren Guoqiang said the CNS Huangshan, a Type 054A guided-missile frigate, and the CNS Liupanshui, a Type 056 corvette, were dispatched to identify the US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin after it entered waters near some islands and reefs in the South China Sea without permission. The Chinese ships then warned the US vessel and told it to leave, he said.

"China has indisputable sovereignty over islands and reefs in the South China Sea and their surrounding waters. The fact that the US has continuously sent its naval ships to trespass in these waters has severely jeopardized China's sovereignty and security, undermined fundamental rules in international relations and compromised regional peace and stability," the spokesman was quoted as saying by a statement released on the ministry's website.