Ships of the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force sail in formation during bilateral training in the South China Sea, Aug. 31. (U.S. Navy/MC2 Kaila V. Peters)
CNN: US Navy sails past contested islands in South China Sea amid U.S.-China tensions
The United States sailed a warship close to disputed islands in the South China Sea on Sunday, a move that is bound to draw the ire of Beijing and comes amid heightened US-China tensions over a broad range of issues.
Two US officials told CNN that the guided-missile destroyer USS Decatur sailed within 12 nautical miles of Gaven and Johnson reefs in the Spratly Islands as part of what the US Navy calls "freedom of navigation operations," which are meant to enforce the right of free passage in international waters.
"US Forces operate in the Indo-Pacific region on a daily basis, including the South China Sea. All operations are designed in accordance with international law and demonstrate that the United States will fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows," a US defense official told CNN.
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Update: U.S. warship sails near disputed South China Sea islands: U.S. official (Reuters)
WNU Editor: This appears to be a follow up on this weeks B-52 flights in the region .... U.S. flies bombers over South China Sea amid heightened tensions with Beijing (Reuters)
