BEIJING, March 23 -- "On March 23, the US guided-missile destroyer USS Milius illegally entered the territorial waters near China's Xisha Islands without Chinese government's permission. The naval and aerial forces of the Chinese PLA Southern Theater Command conducted whole-process tracking and monitoring on the US destroyer in accordance with the law, and warned it off," said Air Force Senior Colonel Tian Junli, Spokesperson for the PLA Southern Theater Command, in a written statement on Thursday.
Senior Colonel Tian pointed out that the US move has seriously jeopardized the peace and stability in the South China Sea.
"The troops of the PLA Southern Theater Command will always stay on high alert and take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard China’s national sovereignty and security, as well as peace and stability in the South China Sea," stressed the spokesperson.