China's military said Guided-missile destroyer Milius belonging
to United States Navy has illegally intruded into China's territorial waters,
without the approval of the government on March 22nd.
China's military said it monitored its movements into its
territorial waters and drove away the destroyer that had illegally entered
waters around the Paracel
Islands in the South China Sea
In a statement, the military said the guided-missile destroyer
Milius illegally intruded into China's territorial waters,without the approval
of the Chinese government undermining peace and stability in the busy waterway.
The Chinese theater forces will maintain a high state of alert
at all times and take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard national
sovereignty and security and peace and stability in the South China Sea,"
said Tian Junli, a spokesman for China's Southern Theatre Command said.
Tension
between the United States and China has been growing in the area.
The United States has been shoring up alliances in the
Asia-Pacific seeking to counter China's assertiveness in the South China Sea
and the Taiwan Strait, as Beijing seeks to advance its territorial claims.