China has asserted that the United States is engaging in interference in waters far beyond its territorial boundaries, reiterating its claim that the U.S. is responsible for escalating regional tensions. This accusation comes in response to the passage of the USS Giffords, a littoral combat ship designed for operations in coastal areas, near Second Thomas Shoal.
In a statement released by the Chinese military's Southern Theater, it was stated, "The U.S. deliberately disrupted the situation in the South China Sea, seriously violated China’s sovereignty and security, seriously undermined regional peace and stability, and seriously violated international law and basic norms governing international relations, fully demonstrating that the U.S. is the biggest threat to peace and stability in the South China Sea."
China has laid claim to virtually all reefs and outcroppings in the South China Sea, undertaking construction projects to transform some into islands with military-use runways. This territorial assertion has resulted in a complex web of overlapping claims, with Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Brunei also asserting their rightful ownership of territories in the same waters. The ongoing disputes contribute to the intricate geopolitical dynamics in the region.
