US denies China expelled warships from South China Sea

WASHINGTON – The United States (US) Navy has refuted China’s claims that Beijing’s military chased American warships out of South China Sea .

The denial came after one of the guided-missile destroyers carried out Operation Freedom of Navigation (FONOP) in the South China Sea on Monday.

Also read: China Expels US Warship from South China Sea Paracel Waters

The People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) Southern Theater Command previously claimed to have chased the warship USS Benfold (DDG-65) after illegally entering waters near the Paracel Islands.

The Paracel Islands are contested by China and several Southeast Asian countries.

“Statement [Republik Rakyat Tiongkok] about this mission is wrong. USS Benfold conducted this FONOP in accordance with international law and subsequently resumed normal operations in international waters,” the US Navy’s 7th Fleet said in a press statement.USNI News, Tuesday (13/7/2021).

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