China says it warned and tracked U.S. warship in South China Sea
Story highlights
- China warns of consequences if the U.S. or other countries raise tensions
- U.S. sends warship within 12 nautical miles of one of China's artificial islands
- China slams move as "illegal," says monitored, followed and warned the vessel
(CNN)China said it warned and tracked a U.S. Navy warship as it came very close to one of its artificial islands in the South China Sea's contested waters.
China's Foreign Ministry said in a statement Tuesday that the vessel "illegally entered into the waters of China's Spratly Islands."
"The action taken by the U.S. warship has threatened China's sovereignty and security interest, and has put the safety of personnel on the reefs in danger," the ministry said.
A U.S. defense official told CNN that the destroyer USS Lassen "conducted a transit" within 12 nautical miles of Subi Reef in the Spratly Islands on Tuesday morning local time.
The operation put the ship within an area that would be considered Chinese sovereign territory if the U.S. recognized the man-made islands as being Chinese territory, the official added.
The United States hadn't breached the 12-mile limit since China began massive dredging operations to turn three reefs into artificial islands in 2014 -- even though maritime law doesn't usually accord territorial waters to islands built on previously submerged reefs.
Chinese government: Don't push us
On Tuesday, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned of consequences if a country caused trouble or raised tensions in the territories China claims as its own.
"If any country thinks that, through some gimmicks, they will be able to interfere with or even prevent China from engaging in reasonable, legitimate and legal activities in its own territories, I want to suggest those countries give up such fantasy," ministry spokesman Lu Kang said.
"In fact, if relevant parties insist on creating tensions in the region and making trouble out of nothing, it may force China to draw the conclusion that we need to strengthen and hasten the buildup of our relevant capabilities. I advise the U.S. not to create such a self-fulfilling prophecy."
http://edition.cnn.com/2015/10/27/asia/us-china-south-china-sea/
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