**US Warship Passage Draws Chinese Protest**

Near Sabina Shoal, China said it tracked and monitored the **USS Charleston** on **20th October**, calling the passage illegal without Chinese approval. The Philippines says the shoal is **75 nautical miles off Palawan**, inside its exclusive economic zone.

Beijing referred to **adjacent waters**, unlike its August 2025 claim that a US warship entered Chinese territorial waters near Scarborough Shoal and was expelled. The US Navy denied that earlier claim.

The Philippines says lawful transit through international waters needs no permission. The same day, Taiwan said it drove Chinese coast guard ships from waters near Pratas Islands for the **12th time this year**. Washington says its defence treaty covers attacks on Philippine forces and coast guard vessels **anywhere in the South China Sea**.

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