File photo of Chinese Navy fleet (front) keeps eye on U.S. fleet (circled) in South China Sea.
China expresses serious concern about reports saying that U.S. Navy will send a surface ship into China's territory in the South China Sea, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Thursday.
"We hope the U.S. can look upon the current situation of the South China Sea from an objective and fair perspective and play a constructive role together with China in keeping the peace and stability in the South China Sea," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.
China and the U.S. have discussed the issue on numerous occasions, including during President Xi Jinping's state visit to Washington D.C. last month, Hua added.
According to the Navy Times on Wednesday, U.S. navy is about to send a surface ship inside China's territorial man-made island chain in South China Sea. The move is still awaiting for a final approval from the Obama administration, according to the story, but will be "imminent", the Navy Times cited three anonymous Pentagon officials.
