China protests latest US Navy mission in South China Sea

Beijing, Oct 10 (AP) China said it dispatched ships and planes to track US guided-missile destroyer John S McCain as it passed near Chinese-held islands in South China Sea.

People's Liberation Army accused US warship of trespassing into Chinese territorial waters on Friday near Paracel Islands called Xisha by China during latest freedom of navigation missions by US Navy aimed at defying China's vast claims in strategic waterway.

Spokesperson for PLA's Sourn atre Command Col. Zhang Nandong said Beijing demanded US end such actions, calling m blatant navigation hegemony and military provocation that seriously violated China's sovereignty and security interests, and gravely jeopardized peace and stability in South China Sea .

We urges US side to immediately stop such kind of provocative actions, strictly man and control its maritime and air military operations so as t to cause any eventuality , Zhang was quoted as saying by official Xinhua News ncy.

China claims sovereignty over virtually entire South China Sea, which is also claimed in whole or in part by Taiwan, Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam. Frictions between China and Indonesia have also increased over activities by China's fishing vessels, coast guard and navy within Indonesia's exclusive ecomic zone.

China igred a 2016 arbitration ruling that invalidated most of its territorial claims in South China Sea, but has encountered persistent pushback from US, its allies and China's Souast Asian neighbours over its moves to cement its control in disputed area.