Tensions Rise as US Warship Enters Chinese Waters in South China Sea

Beijing criticized Washington as the "biggest disrupter of peace" in the South China Sea after a US warship entered waters near disputed islands. The Chinese military claimed to have "warned off" the US destroyer that entered its territorial waters near the Paracel Islands. China, Vietnam, and Taiwan all claim sovereignty over these waters. The US Navy's Seventh Fleet stated that the operation was conducted under international law and emphasized its commitment to a free and open international order. This encounter marks the first between the US and China in the area since the Xi Jinping-Joe Biden summit. The US has been increasing military activities in the South China Sea, leading to heightened tensions with Beijing.