US missile destroyer trespassing territorial waters 'serious provocation': China

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BEIJING -- China said on Sunday that the US missile destroyer trespassing China's territorial waters off the Xisha Islands was "serious political and military provocation."

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said in a statement released on Sunday night that China dispatched military vessels and fighter planes in response to warn off the US vessel.

Earlier Sunday, the missile destroyer USS Stethem trespassed China's territorial waters off the Xisha Islands.

The Xisha Islands are an inherent part of the Chinese territory, Lu said, noting that in accordance with the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone, the Chinese government promulgated the baseline of the territorial sea off the Xisha Islands in 1996.

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