Beijing lashes out at US for South China Sea sail-by
China on 30 November scolded the US for sending naval vessels close to disputed islands in the South China Sea where Beijing has built military installations.
The US and its allies have in recent times sent planes and warships to the area for ‘freedom of navigation’ operations, intended as a signal to Beijing of their right under international law to pass through the waters claimed by China.
The USS Chancellorsville guided missile destroyer on 27 November entered waters off the Paracel Islands, known as Xisha in Chinese, said People’s Liberation Army Southern Theatre spokesman Li Huamin in a statement.
Aircraft and warships were scrambled, sending out warnings for the American vessel to leave the area.
‘We urge the US to strengthen the management of its vessels and aircraft that pass by Chinese territory to prevent unexpected events,’ Li said.
China has also lodged a diplomatic complaint with the US, foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said during a regular press briefing, calling on the US to ‘immediately stop such provocative actions that violate China’s sovereignty’.
The Paracels are claimed by China, Taiwan and Vietnam.
China claims nearly all of the South China Sea though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all claim parts of it.
Further angering those countries, and the US, Beijing has moved aggressively to build up reefs into artificial islands capable of hosting military planes.
It was the second US naval operation to irk China this week.
On 28 November, two US ships sailed through the Taiwan Strait - which China considers its territory but the US and others see as international waters open to all - prompting a furious Beijing to send warships and fighter jets.
This was the third such operation this year, including one last month which prompted a diplomatic protest.
The naval tensions come just ahead of scheduled talked between US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Argentina this weekend aimed at softening trade tensions.
You may also like
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Shoreline vulnerability drives Gulf interest in USV networks]()
Shoreline vulnerability drives Gulf interest in USV networks
Ukraine’s combat-proven Magura uncrewed surface vessel is attracting Gulf state interest as the Iran war exposes gaps in layered maritime air defence, raising questions about whether low-cost attritable systems can gain a foothold in a procurement culture historically drawn to high-end Western platforms.
-
![Partnerships will be critical for future projects at Latin American shipyards]()
Partnerships will be critical for future projects at Latin American shipyards
Multiple Latin American navies are modernising their fleets by prioritising domestically manufactured surface vessels and even submarines via international partnerships.
-
![Sweden swayed by speed to capability in French frigate win]()
Sweden swayed by speed to capability in French frigate win
Naval Group has secured a contract to supply four Frégate de Défense et d’Intervention frigates to the Royal Swedish Navy, extending the French naval industry’s reach into Northern Europe and showing why speed to capability has become the defining criterion in today’s defence procurement contests.
-
![SOF Week 2026: US NSW explores 3D-printed USVs for forward-deployed operations]()
SOF Week 2026: US NSW explores 3D-printed USVs for forward-deployed operations
US Naval Special Warfare Command is assessing the feasibility of rapidly producing expendable mid-sized USVs in theatre to support SOF and maritime security missions.
-
![Germany’s F126 delays open the door for Rheinmetall’s naval ambitions]()
Germany’s F126 delays open the door for Rheinmetall’s naval ambitions
Germany’s F126 frigate crisis has handed Rheinmetall an opening it had been working towards for years, and the company intends to make the most of it.
-
![SOF Week 2026: MARSOC selects upgraded Shark Marine dive navigation system]()
SOF Week 2026: MARSOC selects upgraded Shark Marine dive navigation system
MARSOC is procuring the Shark Marine Dive Tablet 2 to address a longstanding combat diver navigation capability gap, improving underwater positioning, situational awareness and integration with existing diver propulsion vehicles.
