U.S. destroyer's passage through Taiwan Straits under surveillance of Chinese military, spokesperson says

A Chinese military spokesperson said on Thursday that the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army tracked and monitored the U.S. destroyer USS William P. Lawrence throughout its passage through the Taiwan Straits on Wednesday.

Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson for the theater command, said the theater command has deployed naval and air forces to monitor the entire passage of the U.S. vessel, and handled the issue in accordance with laws and regulations.

Noting that U.S. remarks have distorted legal principles and misled international public opinion, he urged the United States to stop distorting and sensationalizing the issue and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability.