China condemns US navy sail-by in disputed waters

 China on Friday accused US of "provocative" conduct after two US warships sailed near islands claimed by Beijing this week, ding to tensions between global powers. US Navy regularly conducts "freedom of navigation operations" in disputed South China Sea, where China, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have competing claims.

US Navy said USS Gabrielle Giffords littoral combat ship sailed near Mischief Reef in Spratly Islands Wednesday, and USS Wayne E. Meyer guided-missile destroyer passed Paracel Islands on Thursday.

"USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) challenged restrictions on incent pass imposed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam and also contested China's claim to straight baselines enclosing Paracel Islands," Commander Reann Mommsen, spokeswoman for US 7th Fleet based in Japan, told AFP.

"USS Gabrielle Giffords demonstrated that Mischief Reef, a low-tide elevation in its natural state, is t entitled to a territorial sea under international law."

China dispatched military vessels to identify and monitor US ships and warned m to leave, People's Liberation Army Sourn atre Command said in a statement Friday.

"Recently, US has used pretext of 'freedom of navigation' to frequently send warships to South China Sea area to cause trouble," statement said.

"We urge US to cease this kind of provocative, risky conduct, to prevent unforeseen incidents." Mommsen said operations were designed to "demonstrate that United States will fly, sail, and operate wherever international law allows -- regardless of location of excessive maritime claims and regardless of current events".

Washington and Beijing are locked in a bruising tre war and have tussled over diplomatic issues, including a bill passed by US Congress this week in support of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.

China has laid claim to nearly all of South China Sea and has built numerous military outposts on small islands and atolls of region, angering or claimants.

In recent months, US military has stepped up its freedom of navigation operations or "FOPS" in region, irking Beijing but t sparking any direct confrontation thus far.

China has effectively drawn a property line around whole of Paracels archipelago -- which it calls Xisha Islands -- to claim entire territory.

But United States says that does t accord with international law on archipelagos and territorial seas.