Disputed island china condemns us warship passage

You're referring to the recent incident involving the US Navy warship USS McCampbell and the disputed islands in the South China Sea.

On September 30, 2019, the USS McCampbell, a US Navy guided-missile destroyer, sailed within 12 nautical miles of the disputed Paracel Islands, which are claimed by China, Vietnam, and Taiwan. The US Navy claimed that the passage was a "routine" and "lawful" exercise of freedom of navigation, while China condemned the move as a "serious violation" of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

China's Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that the US warship had "illegally" entered the waters near the Paracel Islands, and that the US was "trying to stir up trouble" in the region. China also accused the US of "hyping up" the situation and "undermining regional peace and stability".

The US Navy, on the other hand, maintained that the passage was a "routine" and "lawful" exercise of freedom of navigation, and that it was not intended to provoke or challenge China's claims to the islands. The US has long maintained that it does not take a position on the sovereignty of the disputed islands, but it does believe that all nations have the right to freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea.

This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between the US and China over the South China Sea, which is a critical waterway for global trade and commerce. The US has been increasingly critical of China's construction of artificial islands and military installations in the region, which it sees as a threat to regional stability and the freedom of navigation.

It's worth noting that the US has a long history of conducting freedom of navigation operations (FONOPs) in the South China Sea, which are designed to challenge China's claims to the region and to promote regional stability. However, these operations have been met with increasing resistance from China, which sees them as a threat to its sovereignty and territorial integrity.