China Sends Navy to Track USS Charleston Near Disputed Sabina Shoal; Taiwan Reports Standoff With Chinese Coast Guard Ship

China's military said Tuesday it sent naval forces to track a U.S. warship that it said "illegally intruded" into waters near Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea, Reuters reported.

China's Statement on Sabina Shoal

The Chinese military's Southern Theatre Command said the USS Charleston entered waters next to the shoal in the Spratly Islands without Chinese government approval early Tuesday. "The US action infringes upon China's sovereign rights and interests, jeopardizes maritime security, and is detrimental to regional peace and stability," the command said. "The US side should immediately cease such activities."

The U.S. Navy had no immediate comment, Reuters reported. The Navy generally calls such missions "freedom of navigation operations." Its last known one in the South China Sea was more than a year ago, the report said.

Philippines: No Trespass

A Philippine military spokesperson said the U.S. ship "did not trespass into 'Chinese territory'" and that no nation can require permission for "lawful transit through international waters." China and the Philippines, a U.S. treaty ally, both claim Sabina Shoal. Last month a China Coast Guard vessel rammed a Philippine boat on a resupply mission near the shoal, according to the Philippine Coast Guard; China blamed the Philippine side.

Taiwan Reports Standoff Near Pratas

In a separate incident Tuesday, Taiwan's Coast Guard said a Chinese Coast Guard ship entered restricted waters near the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands. The Chinese ship broadcast that "the so-called Republic of China does not exist," and the Taiwanese ship answered that "the Republic of China, Taiwan, is a sovereign and independent country," Taiwan's Coast Guard said. It said the standoff was continuing.

Sources: Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinese-navy-says-us-ship-near-sabina-shoal-jeopardised-maritime-security-2026-10-20/ ; South China Morning Post: https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3371517/pla-navy-followed-us-vessel-patrol-south-china-sea-hotspot-beijing-says