Chinese Military Warns US Warship in South China Sea

The Chinese military has issued a warning to the United States after the USS Hopper, a guided-missile destroyer, entered China's territorial waters near the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea without approval. Senior Colonel Tian Junli, a spokesman for the PLA's Southern Theater Command, stated that the command had dispatched air and naval forces to monitor and deter the US warship from the area, emphasizing that the US action constituted a serious violation of China's sovereignty. Tian criticized the US for pursuing "navigation hegemony" and accused it of militarizing the South China Sea. Furthermore, the spokesperson cautioned that the Chinese troops would maintain a constant state of high alert to protect national sovereignty and peace in the South China Sea.