China loudly demands US ships leave the East Sea

China said on May 25 that its warships had sent warning signals and asked the US warship to leave after it moved within 12 nautical miles of an artificial island illegally built by Beijing in the East Sea.

The US Navy destroyer USS Dewey. Photo: US Navy

Speaking at a regular monthly press conference in Beijing on May 25, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Ren Guoqiang said Beijing had issued a stern warning to the US after discovering the US Navy warship USS Dewey conducting patrols near Vanh Khan Reef in Vietnam's Truong Sa archipelago.

According toReuters, Chinese warships warned the US ship USS Dewey and loudly asked it to leave the patrol area. Mr. Ren said the above moves by the US are not beneficial to peace and stability in the East Sea.

Also related to the US Navy patrol near Van Khanh Reef, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said today that Beijing has called on the US to "correct its mistakes" and asked Washington not to conduct further patrols in the East Sea in the future.

Mr. Luc said that the US patrol activities in the East Sea are likely to cause unpredictable incidents both at sea and in the air in this area. In addition, China also "accused" the US of seriously hindering the negotiation process between the parties involved in the dispute in the East Sea by sending warships to patrol the area.

The US ship’s operation is part of its “freedom of navigation” campaign in the East Sea, which has been maintained since the time of former President Barack Obama. This is also the first US move to challenge China in this sea area since President Donald Trump took office in late January.

China is believed to have carried out illegal reclamation activities on Vành Khăn Reef and recently released satellite images show that Beijing has brazenly built illegal military structures on the reef.

According to Dan Tri