The Chinese military has dispatched maritime and air units to warn and dispel a United States naval vessel that trespassed in waters adjacent to China's Nansha Islands in the South China Sea on Tuesday, the People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command said in a statement.

Senior air force Colonel Tian Junli, a spokesman of the theater command, said on Tuesday that the USS destroyer John S. McCain had trespassed in waters near Nansha without approval from the Chinese government.

The PLA Southern Theater Command mobilized maritime and air units to warn and dispel the vessel, Tian said.

"The US' action has seriously violated China's sovereignty and security and has seriously damaged peace and stability in the South China Sea region, and we express our resolute opposition (to this action)," he said.

Personnel at the theater command will remain at high alert and resolutely fulfill their duties to protect national sovereignty, security and peace and stability in the region, he added.