China says US warship illegally enters its territory in S. China Sea

The US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur patrols in the Philippine Sea in this Aug 15, 2013 file photo. - Reuters

BEIJING (Reuters): China said on Thursday (May 20) a US warship had illegally entered its territorial waters in the South China Sea, the latest salvo in the two nations' dispute over Beijing's territorial claims in the busy waterway.

In a statement, the Chinese military's Southern Theater Command said the USS Curtis Wilbur entered the waters near the Paracel Islands without permission, adding that its ships and planes followed the US vessel.