China’s Southern ​Theater Command Navy on ‌Tuesday (October 20, 2026) accused a U.S. ​littoral combat ⁠ship of jeopardising maritime security by “illegally” entering ‌waters near Sabina Shoal in the ‌Spratly Islands ‌without ⁠approval from Beijing.

The Chinese ⁠Navy dispatched forces to track and monitor ​the USS ‌Charleston, and said the U.S. action not only infringes ‌on China’s sovereign rights ​but was also detrimental to ⁠regional peace and stability.

China and the ‌Philippines, which shares a mutual defence treaty with the U.S., both contest sovereignty over ‌Sabina Shoal and the ​entire Spratly Islands archipelago.

The U.S. ⁠Navy did not immediately ⁠respond to a request ‌for comment.