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China has openly criticized the United States following the deployment of the USS Gabrielle Giffords in disputed waters of the South China Sea.

The Chinese military condemned this action, stating, “The appearance of the USS Gabrielle Giffords near the Second Thomas Shoal on Monday’ seriously violated China’s sovereignty and security,'” as per their official statement. They further accused the US of “seriously undermining regional peace and stability,” highlighting the ongoing military tensions between the two nations.

The spokesperson from China’s Southern Theater of Operations also mentioned, “The US deliberately disrupted the South China Sea and seriously violated China’s sovereignty.” They also reported that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army organized maritime troops to track and monitor the US ship, with their troops “on high alert at all times to resolutely defend national sovereignty.”

The Chinese military alleged that the US vessel’s actions “undermined regional peace and stability” and branded the US “the biggest threat to peace and stability in the South China Sea.”

Currently, the US Pacific Fleet has not commented on the accusations from China.

This incident comes as the ongoing dispute over American military activities in the region, despite recent attempts to stabilize US-China relations, including a meeting between President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The Second Thomas Shoal, the site of this recent encounter, has been a point of contention in the South China Sea, particularly involving tense interactions between Chinese and Philippine vessels.