China has recently asserted that it forced a U.S. Navy destroyer to withdraw after it sailed near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, a vital and contested maritime trade route.
The Chinese Ministry of Defence accused the USS Higgins, part of the U.S. Seventh Fleet based in Japan, of “illegally entering China’s territorial waters off Huangyan Island” without permission. Huangyan Island is China’s name for Scarborough Shoal, claimed by both China and the Philippines.
Beijing described the U.S. action as a serious breach of sovereignty that threatened regional peace and violated international law.
A spokeswoman for the U.S. Seventh Fleet defended the mission as a routine “freedom of navigation” operation consistent with international law, dismissing China’s accusations and reaffirming America’s right to navigate wherever allowed.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing, including a recent collision between a Chinese navy ship and a coast guard vessel while chasing a Philippine patrol boat in the area.
China claims nearly all of the South China Sea through the disputed “nine-dash line,” a claim rejected by a 2016 international tribunal ruling. Several countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia, contest parts of the sea, which is key for fishing, energy resources, and global shipping.
The Philippines has accused Chinese forces of aggressive tactics such as vessel harassment and laser targeting of aircraft. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. warned in May 2024 that any Filipino death caused by Chinese Coast Guard forces would be a “red line” and almost an act of war, echoing the terms of the U.S.-Philippines mutual defence treaty.
Tensions remain high as claimant states enhance their military presence while diplomatic efforts continue. The South China Sea sees over $3 trillion in trade yearly, with vast importance for China and its neighbours.