China's Foreign Ministry
said the "relevant authorities" had monitored, followed and warned
the USS Lassen as it "illegally" entered waters near islands and
reefs in the Spratlys.
"China will resolutely
respond to any country's deliberate provocations," it said in a statement.
China has warned a US Navy
guided-missile destroyer to keep away from a group of man-made islands it has
built in the disputed South China Sea.
China says it followed and
challenged USS Lassen as it sailed within 12 nautical miles of Subi Reef around
the islands in the Spratly archipelago.
China claims it owns the
waters in some of the world's busiest sea lanes - other nations challenge it.
The China's Foreign
Ministry said ………
"We will continue to
closely monitor the relevant seas and airspace, and take all necessary steps in
accordance with the need.
"China strongly urges
the US side to conscientiously handle China's serious representations,
immediately correct its mistake and not take any dangerous or provocative acts
that threaten China's sovereignty and security interests," it said.
A US defence official
confirmed the ship had sailed within the disputed area and a second defence
official said the mission, which lasted a few hours, also included Mischief
Reef.
He said it would be the
first in a series of freedom-of-navigation exercises aimed at testing China's
territorial claims.
The US insists there will
be more patrols in the near future and could also take in areas that Vietnam
and the Philippines have built up interests in.
"This is something
that will be a regular occurrence, not a one-off event," said the second
US official. "It's not something that's unique to China."
A White House official has
said the US has made it clear to China how important it considers the free flow
of commerce in the South China Sea to be.
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