US Says Warship Was Obeying ‘International Law’ in South China Sea as China Protests

A US navy ship transiting near the Paracel Islands has drawn the ire of China’s ruling communist party, which is pursuing control of the region.

Crew on the USS Hopper (DDG 70) as it transits the South China Sea near the contested Paracel Islands on Nov. 25, 2023. U.S. Navy

A U.S. warship at the center of a dispute with the Chinese military in the South China Sea over the weekend was obeying international law, a U.S. Navy spokesperson says.

According to a Nov. 26 report, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Southern Theatre Command reportedly claimed on its WeChat social media account that its naval and air forces were deployed to “track, monitor, and warn away” a U.S. destroyer.