China confronts U.S. warship as tension grows: "Drove it away"

https://newsweek.com/china-us-south-china-sea-navy-confrontation…

China's military said it had driven a U.S. warship from waters it claims in the South China Sea at the weekend and accused the United States of being the "biggest destroyer" of peace and stability in the region.

The incident highlighted the tensions in the flashpoint region and was the first such confrontation since Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden met on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific summit in San Francisco earlier this month and reported progress on some of the issues that have strained ties between the global rivals.

Tian sharply criticized the United States, labeling the action a "serious violation" of China's sovereignty and security. Tian described the United States as a "security risk maker in the South China Sea" and the "biggest destroyer" of peace and stability in the region. He said troops in the region would remain on high alert.

China's claims over almost the entirety of the South China Sea have long been a point of contention, bringing it into confrontation not only with the United States but also with other regional claimants, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. Beijing has consistently rejected the 2016 ruling by The Permanent Court of Arbitration, which stated that China's claims in the South China Sea have no legal basis.