US Navy Responds to Chinese Provocation in South China Sea
On June 14th, 2025, the USS Princeton, a key vessel in the US Navy, patrolled the South China Sea when it detected a Chinese Type 052D destroyer, Jon Chong, at a distance of roughly 200 kilometers. The situation quickly escalated as the Chinese ship increased its speed, signaling a potential confrontation.
The Chinese destroyer’s captain had reportedly received orders from Beijing to intercept the Americans and force them to back down. However, the USS Princeton was well-prepared, equipped with advanced radar systems and armed with 122 vertical launch cells capable of engaging multiple threats simultaneously.
As the Jon Chong closed in, the threat of its YJ-18 anti-ship missiles became imminent. Nevertheless, the Princeton’s SM-6 missiles were capable of neutralizing these threats before they could reach the American vessel, creating a tense standoff described as a “deadly dance” in the open waters of the South China Sea.