China says tracked US Navy ship in Escoda Shoal
China said Tuesday that its military tracked an American Navy ship in the Escoda Shoal area of the West Philippine Sea. The People’s Liberation Army said the vessel had sailed through disputed waters adjacent to Xianbin Jiao, the Chinese name for the shoal. The ship was identified as the USS Charleston, a littoral combat ship. Beijing described the movement as an illegal intrusion into Chinese-claimed waters. The military account said Chinese forces were assigned to track and monitor the vessel as it passed through the area. The report included no immediate reaction from the American government or Navy.
BEIJING, China — China’s military said Tuesday it had sent forces to “track and monitor” a U.S. Navy vessel that sailed through disputed waters in the West Philippine Sea. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) said the USS Charleston, a littoral combat ship, had “illegally intruded into waters adjacent to Xianbin Jiao,” China’s name for the