US Warship Appears in South China Sea on Day Hong Kong Security Law Passed... US-China Military Confrontation

PLA: "US Destroyer Ordered to Leave After Intrusion"

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Park Sun-mi] On the 28th, the day the Hong Kong National Security Law (Hong Kong Security Law) was passed at the Chinese National People's Congress (NPC), it was revealed that military tensions between the U.S. and China had formed in the South China Sea.

According to China's Global Times on the 29th, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) expelled a U.S. Navy warship that illegally intruded into Chinese waters near the Paracel Islands (Chinese name: Xisha Qundao) in the South China Sea the previous day. That day was when China passed the draft of the Hong Kong Security Law at the NPC closing ceremony, ignoring opposition from the U.S. and other Western countries.

Li Huamin, spokesperson for the PLA Southern Theater Command, stated, "The U.S. destroyer USS Mustin illegally intruded into Chinese waters without the Chinese government's permission. In response, we organized naval and air forces to track it. We tracked its course, observed, warned, and forced it to leave."

Spokesperson Li explained, "This provocative and blatant hegemonic navigation act seriously infringed upon China's sovereignty and security interests, as well as international laws and regulations. It seriously undermined peace and stability in the South China Sea region."

Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy confirmed that the USS Mustin sailed near the Paracel Islands the previous day but stated, "We exercised the right and freedom of navigation. It is in accordance with international law."

The newspaper explained that this was not the first time the PLA expelled U.S. warships in the South China Sea this year, noting similar incidents near the Nansha Islands and Xisha Qundao in January, March, and April. It added that such U.S. provocations justified China's increase in defense spending. China announced in this year's Two Sessions work report that it would increase its 2020 defense budget by 6.6%.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.