GUANGZHOU, Dec. 22 – “On December 22, the US guided missile destroyer USS John S. McCain trespassed into the waters adjacent to China's Nansha islands and reefs without Chinese Government’s permission, and the naval and aerial forces of the Chinese PLA Southern Theater Command conducted whole-process tracking and monitoring on the US destroyer and warned it off,” said Air Force Senior Colonel Tian Junli, Spokesperson for the PLA Southern Theater Command, in a written statement on Tuesday afternoon.
The spokesperson pointed out that the US move has seriously violated China’s sovereignty and security, and gravely undermined peace and stability in the South China Sea. "China is strongly opposed to such moves," said the spokesperson.
He stressed in the end of the statement that the troops of the PLA Southern Theater Command will always stay on high alert, firmly perform their duties and missions to safeguard China’s sovereignty and security and protect peace and stability in the South China Sea.
