China Accuses US Navy of Provocative Intrusion in South China Sea

The Chinese military accused a US Navy ship of "illegally intruding" into waters near the Second Thomas Shoal, a disputed territory in the South China Sea. The US Navy stated that the ship was conducting routine operations in international waters. China and the Philippines have been engaged in confrontations around the shoal as China tries to prevent the Philippines from resupplying and repairing a warship intentionally grounded in 1999. China claims sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, while Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Brunei also assert ownership over parts of the region. The US has been patrolling the area for years, but China's military expansion and ambitions are challenging American dominance.