China tracks U.S. warship near Sabina Shoal

China’s military reported that the USS Charleston entered waters near Sabina Shoal in the Spratly Islands early Tuesday, prompting the deployment of Chinese naval forces to track the vessel. The Chinese Southern Theater Command characterized the U.S. ship’s presence as an “illegal” intrusion, while the U.S. military generally refers to such missions as freedom of navigation operations, according to reporting by The Hill and Reuters.

Chinese Military Tracking of USS Charleston

The Southern Theater Command stated that the USS Charleston operated in waters adjacent to Sabina Shoal without approval from the Chinese government. In response, the command reported it “dispatched forces to track and monitor the U.S. vessel in accordance with laws and regulations.” Beijing further claimed that the presence of the littoral combat ship infringed upon its sovereign rights and demanded that Washington immediately cease such activities.

While the U.S. Navy did not provide an immediate comment to requests from The Hill or Reuters, the mission aligns with previous U.S. “freedom of navigation operations.” These missions are designed to challenge China’s territorial claims over approximately 90 percent of the South China Sea, which are disputed by the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, and other nations. The Pentagon has not conducted a publicly acknowledged freedom of navigation operation in the region for more than a year.

Philippine Response to Maritime Transit

A spokesperson for the Philippine military told Reuters that the U.S. ship did not trespass into “Chinese territory.” The spokesperson emphasized that no nation has the authority to require prior permission for lawful transit through international waters.

This disagreement over the status of Sabina Shoal follows a reported altercation last month in which the Philippine Coast Guard claimed a Chinese vessel rammed a Philippine boat during a refueling mission. China disputed this account, blaming the Philippine side for the collision. Both nations maintain competing claims over the sovereignty of the Spratly Islands archipelago.

Standoff Near the Pratas Islands

Beyond the events at Sabina Shoal, a separate maritime incident occurred Tuesday near the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands. Taiwan’s Coast Guard reported that a Chinese Coast Guard ship entered restricted waters, leading to a standoff between the two sides.

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Remaining Questions on Regional Operations

• What was the objective of the USS Charleston mission? The U.S. Navy has not confirmed the specific purpose of the transit, though such movements are historically framed as freedom of navigation operations to challenge territorial assertions in the South China Sea.
• Will the U.S. or Chinese governments provide further statements? As of Tuesday, the U.S. Navy and China’s Taiwan Affairs Office had not responded to requests for comment regarding the respective incidents at Sabina Shoal and the Pratas Islands.
• What is the current status of the standoff near the Pratas Islands? Taiwan officials reported that the standoff was continuing as both vessels remained in the area and exchanged maritime broadcasts.