Beijing, October 30 (RHC)-- China has warned the United States Navy against any violation of its territorial waters, saying that it will take “necessary measures” in reaction to U.S. incursions off the disputed islands in the South China Sea.

“We would urge the U.S. not to continue down the wrong path. But if the U.S. side does continue, we will take all necessary measures according to the need,” Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Colonel Yang Yujun said in a statement released on Thursday.

Yang further described as “rock-solid” Beijing’s resolve to protect its national sovereignty and security interests.

The statement was published one day after the guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen sailed within 12 nautical miles (22 kilometers) of one of the artificial islands in the South China Sea.

In response, China summoned Max Baucus, the U.S. ambassador to Beijing, to protest against the U.S. ship patrol in the vicinity of the Chinese artificial islands and urged Washington to refrain from such actions.

Elsewhere in his comments, the Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman reiterated Beijing’s claim that the U.S. vessel had violated Chinese sovereignty and international law. Yang also noted that a pair of Chinese ships had monitored the actions of the U.S. ship and issued warnings.