China will “crush” any foreign intrusion into its claimed territory in the South China Sea, a senior Chinese military official warned on Thursday. Speaking at the Xiangshan defense forum, Lieutenant General He Lei emphasized that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) would firmly protect China’s territorial, sovereign, and maritime rights against any hostile actions, including those backed by the United States.
“If the United States pushes countries to the front line or steps in itself, the PLA will show no patience,” He stated, reinforcing Beijing’s assertive stance in the contested waters. He added that China hopes the South China Sea remains a “sea of peace.”
Tensions have escalated in recent months, with repeated confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels in the South China Sea, a region Beijing claims almost entirely despite international rulings against its claims.
The resolution of these tensions, He suggested, “depends on the United States.”