Kremlin critical of provocations, including violation of China's sovereignty by US ship

The Kremlin does not welcome any kind of provocative action, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has told the media, while commenting on a violation of China's sovereignty by a US naval ship.

"We do not welcome any kind of provocative action in general. On the contrary, any steps that increase mutual trust, predictability and stability are desirable," Peskov said.

Earlier, the spokesman for the Southern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army of China Tian Junli said that the appearance of the littoral ship of the US Navy Gabrielle Giffords near the Ayungin Shoal close to the disputed Nansha (Spratly) Islands violated China’s sovereignty. Tian said Washington's actions were undermining stability in the region and "seriously violating international law and the fundamental norms of international relations."