BEIJING - Tensions escalated in the South China Sea as the Chinese military accused an American naval ship of "illegally intruding" into disputed waters near the Second Thomas Shoal on Monday. The site has been at the center of a territorial dispute between China and the Philippines.

In response to the alleged intrusion, a Chinese naval force was mobilized to track the USS Gabrielle Giffords during the operation, according to a statement from the People's Liberation Army Southern Theater. The U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet defended the ship's presence, stating that it was conducting routine operations in international waters and acting in accordance with international law.

The Second Thomas Shoal, located in the Spratly Islands, has been a flashpoint between Chinese and Philippine naval and coast guard ships in recent months. China has been attempting to prevent the Philippines from resupplying and repairing a rusting warship intentionally grounded in 1999 to serve as a military outpost.

Due to the disparity in military capabilities between China and the Philippines, the latter has sought assistance from the United States in navigating its territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Earlier this year, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. agreed to an expansion of U.S. military presence in the Philippines, and joint sea and air patrols with the United States were launched last month.

China has repeatedly accused the U.S. of meddling in the disputed waters and raising regional tensions. The sailing of the USS Giffords near Second Thomas Shoal has further fueled these allegations. The ship, a littoral combat ship designed for coastal operations, has drawn strong criticism from the Chinese military, which claims that the U.S. has violated China's sovereignty, undermined regional peace, and violated international law.

The South China Sea is a critical shipping lane and fishing grounds, and China has staked claim to almost all of the reefs and outcroppings in the region, asserting its dominance. However, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Brunei also assert their rightful ownership of territory in the same waters, resulting in a web of overlapping claims.

The United States, as a major military power in the region, has traditionally conducted operations in the South China Sea to ensure freedom of navigation. However, China's growing military capabilities and ambitions to become a regional and global power are posing a challenge to U.S. dominance in the area.

In response to China's claims, the U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet, based in Japan, emphasized its commitment to upholding a "free and open Indo-Pacific region" where nations can resolve disputes peacefully and navigate in accordance with international laws and norms.

In a separate incident, the Philippine coast guard reported the presence of over 135 Chinese vessels in the disputed Whitsun Reef in the Spratly Islands. The Philippines has denounced them as a maritime militia and deemed their presence illegal. However, China countered, stating that the reef belongs to them and that Chinese fishing boats have the right to operate there.

The dispute over the South China Sea continues to be a major point of contention in the region, with multiple countries asserting their claims and tensions rising between China and the United States. The situation remains fluid as international actors navigate the complexities of territorial disputes and regional stability.