'The PRC's statement about this mission is false,' says the spokesman of the US Navy's 7th Fleet. The 7th Fleet is part of the US Navy's Pacific force.
The US navy has denied sailing its warship, the USS Benfold (pictured in 2017), illegally near islands in the South China Sea after Chinese forces followed the vessel and said they warned it away.
Chinese forces followed and warned away a U.S. warship which entered waters near the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, the country s military said on Thursday, but the U.S. Navy denied the ship had been warned off.
BEIJING (Reuters) Chinese forces followed and warned away a U.S. warship which entered waters near the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, the country's military said on Thursday, but the U.S. Navy denied the ship had been warned off.