China protests over US warship sailing through SCS; terms move 'provocative'

China on Monday sharply criticised a US naval ship sailing close to a reef claimed by Beijing in the disputed South China Sea as a "provocative act", saying it is firmly opposed to Washington's attempts to use the freedom of navigation operations as a pretext to undermine its sovereignty. The US destroyer "Preble sailed within 12 nautical miles of Scarborough Reef to challenge excessive maritime claims and preserve access to the waterways as governed by international law," Commander Clay Doss, a spokesman for the US Seventh Fleet, told the media.

This is the second such US naval ship to sail through the areas claimed by China in the South China Sea in as many months. On Wednesday, the chief of the US Navy said such operations drew more attention than they deserve. Chinese officials say the US warships' presence in the South China Sea has become more frequent and they see it as an attempt to pressure China over the current trade war between the two countries.

US defends the repeated attempts by its naval ships and aircraft visiting the area as an attempt to assert the freedom of navigation contesting claims of China over the disputed South China Sea. Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Taiwan have counter claims over the area. Reacting angrily to the presence of US ship, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said 'Preble' sailed through the waters of the reef without permission of the Chinese government.

"The Chinese navy identified, verified and according to law and warned it off. I must emphasise the acts of the US ship violated China's sovereignty and peace and security and good order of the relevant waters," he said. China deplores and firmly opposes that, he said.

"China respects the freedom of navigation and over flights enjoyed by all the countries according to the international law in the South China Sea. But we oppose any country's efforts to take this as a pretext to undermine China's sovereignty and security interests," Lu said. The US is neglecting the regional countries will to uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea, take the freedom of navigation and over flights as an excuse to disrupt regional peace and stability, he said.

"We urge the US to stop such provocations. China will continue to take all measures to defend our sovereignty and peace stability in the South China Sea," he said. Over the last five years, China has rapidly built artificial islands housing significant military infrastructure on what had been low-lying reefs.

The United States has criticised China for militarising the islands by constructing long runways used by fighter jets and deploying anti-aircraft missiles. China says the construction is necessary for defence, and it was the US that was responsible for tensions by sending warships and military planes close to islands Beijing claims.