A US Navy destroyer carried out a "freedom of navigation operation" on Thursday, coming within 12 nautical miles of an artificial island built up by China in the South China Sea, US officials told Reuters.
The operation came as President Donald Trump's administration seeks Chinese cooperation in dealing with North Korea's missile and nuclear programs and could complicate efforts to secure a common stance.
The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the USS John S. McCain traveled close to Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands, among a string of islets, reefs and shoals. China has territorial disputes with its neighbors over the area.
It was the third "freedom of navigation operation" or "fonop" conducted during Trump's presidency. Neither China's defence ministry nor its foreign ministry immediately responded to a request for comment.
The operation was the latest attempt to counter what Washington sees as Beijing's efforts to limit freedom of navigation in the strategic waters, and comes as Trump is seeking China's cooperation to rein in North Korea.
Tensions have risen recently after North Korea carried out two nuclear tests last year and two ICBM tests last month, prompting a strong round of UN sanctions which angered Pyongyang who threatened to teach the United States a "severe lesson".
Trump in turn responded by warning North Korea it would face "fire and fury" if it further threatened the United States.
US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis issued a stark warning to North Korea on Wednesday, telling Pyongyang that it should stop any actions that would lead to the "end of its regime and the destruction of its people."
The United States has criticized China's construction of islands and build-up of military facilities in the sea, and is concerned they could be used to restrict free nautical movement.
The US military has a long-standing position that its operations are carried out throughout the world, including in areas claimed by allies, and they are separate from political considerations.
The Trump administration has vowed to conduct more robust South China Sea operations.
In July, a US warship sailed near a disputed island in the South China Sea claimed by China, Taiwan, Vietnam.
Experts and officials have criticized President Barack Obama for potentially reinforcing China's claims by sticking to innocent passage, in which a warship effectively recognized a territorial sea by crossing it speedily without stopping.
China's claims in the South China Sea, through which about $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes each year are contested by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.
Reuters
Thu Aug 10 2017
The guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain approaches the aircraft carrier USS George Washington for a fueling at sea in this December 5, 2010 handout photo courtesy of the U.S. Navy. - Reuters
Bakal PM Singapura Wong umum barisan Kabinet
Bakal Perdana Menteri Singapura Lawrence Wong mengumumkan barisan Kabinetnya pada Isnin, dengan Menteri Perdagangan dan Perusahaan Gan Kim Yong akan dilantik sebagai Timbalan Perdana Menteri.
AWANI Ringkas: Amang seksual terhadap anak
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
AWANI Tonight : 13th May 2024
#AWANITonight with Cynthia Ng
- KKB polls: What led to low youth turnout?
- S'pore incoming PM Wong appoints new deputy in reshuffle
#AWANIenglish #AWANInews
- KKB polls: What led to low youth turnout?
- S'pore incoming PM Wong appoints new deputy in reshuffle
#AWANIenglish #AWANInews
Malaysia, Qatar bincang secara mendalam konflik Palestin-Israel
Perdana Menteri berkata kedua negara bersetuju, semua pihak perlu memainkan peranan untuk mencari penyelesaian bagi mengakhiri penderitaan rakyat Palestin.
Malaysia, Qatar setuju pertingkat kerjasama pelaburan pada tahun mendatang - PM Anwar
Malaysia dan Qatar bersetuju mempertingkatkan kerjasama pelaburan antara kedua-dua negara pada tahun-tahun mendatang, kata Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Poliklinik ATM pertama di Pahang beroperasi tahun depan
Sebuah poliklinik Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) yang pertama di negeri ini bakal beroperasi tahun depan berhampiran Kem Batu 10 di sini, yang akan memanfaatkan 16,000 anggota termasuk keluarga.
AWANI Tonight: India election enters fourth phase, 177 mil set to vote
The fourth phase of India’s seven-week-long election is currently underway, with more than 177 million voters eligible to vote across 96 constituencies.
AWANI Tonight: KKB by-election - Analysing voting patterns, low youth turnout
Political analyst from Ilham Centre, Mujibu Abd Muis sheds light on the voting patterns of the recent Kuala Kubu Bahru (KKB) by-election, which saw a low voter turnout among the youth.
AWANI Tonight: Online booking for Mt. Fuji trail to be introduced
Japan will launch an online booking system for Mount Fuji’s most popular trail in a bid to tackle over tourism on the active volcano, as well as limiting the number of daily hikers to 4,000.
Ping pong B-19, B-15 lelaki cipta sejarah ungguli Kejohanan Remaja SEA 2024
Pada aksi final yang berlangsung di Arena Tan Sri Hamzah itu, menyaksikan skuad negara menewaskan Vietnam 3-0.
China-Perancis kecam serangan Israel di Rafah, gesa gencatan senjata serta-merta
Gencatan senjata serta-merta dan bantuan kemanusiaan yang besar-besaran ke Gaza adalah keperluan mendesak yang perlu dilaksanakan, kata China dan Perancis.
2 maut, lebih 20 cedera dalam serangan pisau ke atas hospital di China
Sekurang-kurangnya dua orang terbunuh manakala 23 lagi cedera dalam serangan menggunakan pisau di sebuah hospital di wilayah barat daya Yunnan di China.
Badminton: China julang Piala Uber buat kali ke-16
China berjaya merangkul kejuaraan Piala Uber buat kali ke-16 apabila menewaskan juara tiga kali, Indonesia 3-0 pada perlawanan akhir.
Piala Uber: Tuan rumah China bertemu Indonesia pada final
Tuan rumah China akan bertemu Indonesia bagi menentukan Juara Piala Uber selepas menewaskan Jepun 3-0.
Piala Thomas: China buat kemarau 10 tahun Malaysia ke final berterusan
Penantian 10 tahun skuad badminton negara untuk ke final Piala Thomas berterusan apabila tewas 1-3 kepada China dalam aksi separuh akhir di Chengdu sebentar tadi.
Separuh akhir Piala Thomas: Leong Jun Hao pamer semangat juang tinggi sebelum tewas
Perseorangan lelaki negara, Leong Jun Hao, mempamerkan semangat juang tinggi walaupun tewas kepada pemain tuan rumah, Li Shi Feng, dalam separuh akhir Piala Thomas di Chengdu sebentar tadi.
Piala Thomas: Misi skuad negara padam reputasi atas kertas
Jika dinilai daripada segi kedudukan ranking dan rekod pertemuan, pasukan negara tidak memiliki banyak kelebihan.
Tinjauan CGTN: 80 peratus responden Perancis sanjung pengaruh China
Nilai dagangan antara China dengan Perancis meningkat lebih 800 kali ganda sejak kedua-dua negara menjalin hubungan diplomatik 60 tahun lalu.
Venue Piala Thomas, Uber di Chengdu dilanda 'demam' panda
Yang paling mencuri perhatian ialah magnet peti sejuk yang menampilkan Yu Rong Rong bermain badminton.
CapCut juga mungkin akan diharamkan di Amerika Syarikat
Menurut laporan The Washington Post, Amerika Syarikat turut akan memerlukan CapCut dijual untuk terus beroperasi di negara mereka.