Lu Kang, spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry of China, speaks at a press conference held in Beijing on May 10, 2016. [Photo: gov.cn]

China has voiced opposition over a US warship that navigated around the Nansha Islands in the South China Sea, saying the Chinese side has taken measures of monitoring, tracking and warning in accordance with the law.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said Tuesday that US destroyer William P. Lawrence illegally entered the waters without China's permission and that the move threatened peace and stability.

He said this action by the U.S. side threatened China's sovereignty and security interests, endangered the staff and facilities on relevant reef, and damaged regional peace and stability.