The US littoral combat ship USS Charleston illegally intruded into the waters adjacent to Xianbin Jiao of China's Nansha Qundao without approval from the Chinese government in the early hours of Monday, said a spokesperson for the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA).

The PLA Southern Theater Command (STC) Navy dispatched forces to track and monitor the US vessel in accordance with laws and regulations, the spokesperson said in an official statement on Tuesday.

Noting that China holds indisputable sovereignty over Nansha Qundao and its adjacent waters, the spokesperson said that the US action infringes upon China's sovereign rights and interests, jeopardizes maritime security, and is detrimental to regional peace and stability.

The US side should immediately cease such activities, and forces of the STC remain on high alert at all times to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and security and uphold regional peace and stability, the spokesperson added.

(Cover: File photo of China's Nansha Qundao. /VCG)