Beijing: Beijing announced that it expelled US warships from 'Chinese territorial waters' in the disputed South China Sea. The incident, which took place on Wednesday, involved the USS Higgins destroyer allegedly intruding into the territorial waters of Huangyan Island without authorization from the Chinese government.

According to Anadolu Agency, Senior Capt. He Tiecheng, spokesperson for the navy of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command, stated that the PLA Navy deployed forces to track, monitor, warn, and expel the destroyer in accordance with laws and regulations. Huangyan Island is also known as Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc.

He Tiecheng emphasized that the US military's actions seriously infringe upon China's sovereignty and security, undermine peace and stability in the South China Sea, and violate international law and basic norms governing international relations. He also stated that the naval forces of the PLA Southern Theater Command remain on high alert, resolutely defending national sovereignty and security, as well as regional peace and stability.

Meanwhile, Taiwan's Defense Ministry reported the detection of 14 PLA aircraft and six navy vessels around the island nation on the same day. Additionally, the Philippines' Coast Guard (PCG) revealed that a Chinese aircraft intercepted one of its aircraft patrolling over Huangyan Island, shortly after a collision between two Chinese vessels near the island.

Jay Tarriela, spokesman for the PCG, expressed concern over the incident, highlighting that a People's Republic of China (PRC) J-15 fighter aircraft dangerously intercepted the PCG Caravan aircraft. The military aircraft reportedly tracked the PCG Caravan aircraft for over 20 minutes, maintaining a lateral distance of only 500 feet and passing directly overhead at just 200 feet.

On Monday, the PCG reported that two Chinese vessels collided while pursuing one of its vessels, resulting in substantial damage to one of the Chinese ships. The ongoing tension in the South China Sea is marked by competing claims between China and the Philippines, with both nations engaging in multiple sea and air encounters in recent years.

China has consistently opposed what it perceives as infringements of its airspace and maritime waters by the US and its allies, while the latter maintains that its military operations occur in international airspace and waters.