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Chinese naval troops expel US warship intruding into territorial waters of China's Huangyan Dao: spokesperson

Global Times

By Guo Yuandan and Liu Xuanzun Published: Aug 13, 2025 11:37 AM

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Wednesday expelled a US warship when it intruded into Chinese territorial waters near Huangyan Dao in the South China Sea. A Chinese expert said the proactive information released by the PLA shows that it has full control over the situation around the Huangyan Dao and will not leave any chances for those with malicious intentions.

The USS Higgins destroyer on Wednesday illegally intruded into the territorial waters of China's Huangyan Dao without permission from the Chinese government. The navy of the PLA Southern Theater Command mobilized forces to monitor, warn and expel the vessel in accordance with laws and regulations, said Senior Captain He Tiecheng, a spokesperson for the navy of the PLA Southern Theater Command, in a statement on Wednesday.

US military's actions have severely violated China's sovereignty and security, seriously undermined peace and stability in the South China Sea, and breached international law and the basic norms of international relations. The naval troops of the PLA Southern Theater Command remain on high alert at all times, resolutely defending national sovereignty, security, and regional peace and stability, the spokesperson said.

The USS Higgins is a warship with the US Seventh Fleet, based in Yokosuka, Japan. Sarah Merrill, a spokesperson for the fleet, claimed that the USS Higgins was conducting a "freedom of navigation operation in accordance with international law," according to a CNBC report on Wednesday.

Bao Yinan, an associate research fellow at the Huayang Center for Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance, told the Global Times on Wednesday that this marks the first US military's intrusion into territorial waters of China's Huangyan Dao since US President Donald Trump took office the second time.

The last time a US warship intruding into Huangyan Dao waters was on May 20, 2019, when the USS Preble destroyer trespassed into waters within 12 nautical miles of Huangyan Dao.

In November 2024, the Chinese government declared the baselines of the territorial sea adjacent to Huangyan Dao.

Bao said that the US military's latest move could be an act to show its reluctance to recognize China's newly declared baselines of the territorial sea adjacent to Huangyan Dao.

Chinese military affairs expert Zhang Junshe told the Global Times on Wednesday that freedom of navigation in the South China Sea has never been restricted. All countries enjoy various rights in the region, including freedom of navigation and overflight.

The US military has repeatedly claimed that its so-called "freedom of navigation operations'" in other countries' territorial waters are intended to challenge "excessive maritime claims" and are conducted in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). However, the fact is that the US has not even ratified UNCLOS to this day. What it enforces is entirely a set of self-made standards, using "freedom of navigation" as a pretext to infringe upon other nations' rights whenever it chooses. Practice has proven that such actions are hardly acceptable to other countries, Zhang said.

The US warship's intrusion came after Philippine vessels' intrusion into Huangyan Dao waters on Monday.

On Monday, the Philippines sent multiple coast guard and government vessels, under the pretext of delivering supplies to fishing boats, to forcibly intrude into waters near China's Huangyan Dao, despite repeated dissuasion and warnings from the Chinese side, China Coast Guard (CCG) spokesperson Gan Yu said in a statement on Monday.

The CCG, in accordance with the law, took necessary measures, including tracking, monitoring, blocking and controlling to drive the Philippine vessels away. On-site operations were conducted in a professional, standard and lawful manner, Gan said, noting that Huangyan Dao is an inherent part of China's territory, and the CCG will continue to carry out rights-protection and law enforcement activities in the waters of Huangyan Dao in accordance with the law, and will resolutely safeguard China's national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

Bao said that the US military deliberately chose this timing to embolden the Philippines, endorse its provocative actions, and further disrupt peace and stability in the South China Sea.

Zhang said that the spokesperson of the navy of the PLA Southern Theater Command proactively disclosed the intrusion of a US warship into the territorial waters of Huangyan Dao. This sent a clear signal to the international community that the PLA maintains full control over the situation around Huangyan Dao, the PLA can respond swiftly to any provocative actions, and will absolutely leave no opportunity for those with malicious intent.

The PLA has the unwavering capability to safeguard national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, Zhang said.