On May 24, China's PLA Southern Theatre Command claimed that the U.S. warship USS Curtis Wilbur had illegally entered its territorial waters near the Paracel islands in the South China Sea without permission and was expelled by its forces. It added that China opposed the U.S. action, which it said violated its sovereignty and undermined regional peace and stability. The U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet, however, said the vessel "asserted navigational rights and freedoms" near the Paracel islands, over which China, Taiwan and Vietnam all claim sovereignty. It said, "USS Curtis Wilbur was not 'expelled' from any nation's territory". "USS Curtis Wilbur conducted this Freedom of Navigation Operation (FONOP) in accordance with international law and then continued on to conduct normal operations in international waters." The Chinese military's comments about the mission were false, it added.
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