• US Navy denies that American warship illegally entered Chinese-claimed territory in the South China Sea.
• The US Navy says it is not a party to any United Nations convention that justifies its actions.
• US Navy denies the PLA expelled the destroyers in the South China Sea. 

According to the US Navy, an American warship was not sailing nor illegally entering claimed waters close to the Xisha Isles. Washington claims it is against Chinese expansion in these waters where FONOPs are done routinely by Washington or its allies.

US Navy Denies Illegally Entering Chinese-Claimed Territory

Washington says its actions are allowed because the US has not signed any treaty or convention that Beijing claims. Last Thursday, the Chinese military stated that a US warship was forced from its waters in the South China Sea, noted China Military.

They disclosed on March 23 when the US guided-missile destroyer USS Milius sailed without permission to the Xisha Islands (Chinese name) or Paracels, the People's Liberation Army regional command. The Paracel Islands are in Vietnam and a chain of islands in the southern part of Hainan reported Sputnik News.

Sources say that combined naval and aerial units of the Chinese PLA Southern Theater Command had tracked and monitored the US destroyer lawfully and gave warning. Additionally, what the US is doing is destabilizing the region.

The Chinese official stressed that troops of the Southern command would be on alert to protect China's national sovereignty and security. This would include peace and stability in the South China Sea, but the US navy denied it with usual.

What is expulsion is what the US statement raises, which is a violation that includes verbal warnings leading into encounters over land or sea. In 2018 close to the Nansha or Spratly Islands when a Chinese destroyer Lanzhou went 45 yards close to the destroyer USS Decatur. The US ship had to reverse propellers to avoid mishap, cited Business Insider.

Read Also: China Condemns US as Destroyer Transits Taiwan Strait; AUKUS Deal Boosts Likelihood of Conflict

PLA and the ''Zero-Sum Mentality'

Beijing has claims on two islands that overlap with other claims made by other South East Asian nations, encompassing the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. Beijing and the ASEAN have negotiated a Code of Conduct for the South China Sea to deal with all disputes at sea.

Though the US has reared its head, imposing its view that more is needed to control the Chinese.

Recently the US managed to have the Philippine government that has a mutual defense treaty to agree to help Washington. Bases there will be used to stage lookouts of the SCS and house forces as the closest areas that can reach China in a conflict.

PLA Sees Actions by American Warships as Provocation

Not all see the move by the US as positive, like China and leftist groups in Manila, which prompted China's Sun Widong, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, to leave for the Philippines. He will talk to Philippine Foreign Minister Theresa Lazaro about dealing with maritime concerns, cooperation, and nonmilitary interests.

He stated Beijing is concerned that defense and security cooperation must be done to create an atmosphere of regional peace and stability. It did not mention who the third party is interested in rocking South East Asia as it does with other places.

Widong called the US harmful and causing problems for countries like the Philippines. He noted the zero-sum mentality of the US and military provocations as detrimental to the region. He added that coercion by Washington is the tool it uses for others to follow.

The US Navy says an American warship did a FONOPs and did not illegally enter close to the Xisha isles.

Related Article: US Warship Stokes Tensions in the Taiwan Strait, Provokes China