China Accuses US of South China Sea Violation, Tensions Rise During Joint Patrols

China has accused the United States of violating its territorial waters in the South China Sea, with the US missile destroyer “Hopper” allegedly entering the Xisha Islands without approval, leading to heightened territorial disputes. (Photo: rappler)

Escalating Tensions: China Accuses US of Territorial Violation in the South China Sea

According to source, China accused the United States of violating its territorial waters in the South China Sea claiming that the US missile destroyer “Hopper” entered the Xisha Islands on November 25 without China’s approval. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command spokesperson stated that the PLA organized naval and aerial forces to lawfully track, monitor, warn, and expel the intruder, further emphasizing the heightened state of territorial disputes.

This incident followed joint air and maritime patrols conducted by the US and the Philippines in the disputed waters earlier in the week, contributing to the ongoing territorial disputes in the region. According to the state-run Global Times, the PLA remained on “high alert” in the South China Sea during the three-day joint US-Philippines air and maritime patrols, underscoring the persistent territorial disputes.

The territorial disputes in the region involve conflicting claims by several sovereign states, including China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, intensifying the complexity of the territorial disputes. China’s response to the alleged violation highlights the ongoing tensions in the South China Sea, a strategic and contested area where multiple nations assert territorial and maritime rights.

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Strained Alliances and Complex Dynamics: US-Philippines Joint Patrols Escalate South China Sea Tensions

The US and the Philippines conducted joint patrols involving their air forces and navies, culminating in the alleged entry of the US missile destroyer into Chinese territorial waters and further fueling territorial disputes. China’s military response underscores the sensitive nature of territorial disputes in the region and the potential for heightened tensions between major powers contributing to the complexity of territorial disputes.

The incident adds to the complex geopolitical dynamics in the South China Sea, where competing territorial claims and military activities continue to be sources of contention among neighboring nations exacerbating territorial disputes.

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