The Chinese army acted immediately and dispatched warships to warn U.S. warships to leave, China's Ministry of National Defense said on Sunday, in response to two U.S. warships' entry into the South China Sea.
On May 27, two U.S. Navy warships, Higgins, a guided-missile destroyer and Antietam, a guided-missile cruiser, arbitrarily entered waters surrounding China's Xisha Islands.
The defense ministry said that the Xisha Islands are an inherent part of China's territory. China resolutely opposes the U.S. actions which go against China’s laws and relative international laws.
The Chinese army is determined to strengthen naval and air combat readiness, improve defense levels, safeguard national sovereignty and security and safeguard regional peace and stability, the ministry said.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry also responded to this, saying that China will continue to take all necessary measures to defend its national sovereignty and security.
