(EDS: Correcting name of island chain in 2ndparagraph)Beijing, Oct 11 (AFP) China said today it has lodged aprotest with the United States after an American warshipsailed near disputed islands in the South China Sea.
The US Navy missile destroyer Chafee entered into China'sterritorial waters near the Paracel Islands on Tuesday,according to Beijing's foreign ministry.
China immediately dispatched military vessels andaircraft for identification and warned the US ship to leave,ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular briefing.
"The US vessel action violated Chinese laws and relevantinternational laws, undermined China's sovereignty andsecurity interests," Hua said.
"China is firmly opposed to that and has lodged sternrepresentations with the US," Hua said, using the term forofficial diplomatic protests.
If confirmed by the United States, it would be the fourth"freedom of navigation" operation (FONOP) carried out by theUS Navy since President Donald Trump took office in January.
A US defence ministry spokesman refused to confirm themanoeuvre.
But he said all operations are conducted in accordancewith international law and "demonstrate that the United Stateswill fly, sail, and operate wherever international lawallows".
"We are continuing regular FONOPS, as we have routinelydone in the past and will continue to do in the future,"Lieutenant Colonel Chris Logan said in a statement.
The US Navy regularly carries out such operations tochallenge China's vast claims to the South China Sea, whereBeijing has turned reefs into militarised artificial islands.
Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwanalso claim territory in the vast sea.
However, Hua said: "The Chinese government will continueto safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritimeentitlements. We urge the US to respect Chinese sovereigntyand security interests." (AFP)PMS.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.