China's Southern Theater Command Says USS Charleston Entered Waters Near Xianbin Jiao on October 20; Chinese Forces Monitored the Ship

The People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command issued a statement on a U.S. warship's presence in the South China Sea. According to the command's October 20 release, the U.S. Navy littoral combat ship USS Charleston (LCS-18) entered waters near Xianbin Jiao in the early hours of that day.
Yin Gang, spokesperson for the Southern Theater Command Navy, said the command organized forces to track and monitor the U.S. vessel in accordance with laws and regulations.
(Pictured: USS Charleston in the South China Sea, U.S. Navy file photo.)
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: U.S. Navy · Public domain
Story Timeline
- 2026-10-16China's Defense Ministry: Philippine Territory Does Not Include Huangyan Dao or the Nansha Islands; China Will Take Resolute Action Against Moves That Stir Up Trouble in the South China Sea
- 2026-10-20China's Southern Theater Command Says USS Charleston Entered Waters Near Xianbin Jiao on October 20; Chinese Forces Monitored the ShipThis story
- 2026-10-23Philippine Defense Secretary Teodoro: Any Chinese Attempt to Tow Away BRP Sierra Madre Would Be an Act of War

