U.S. warship sails near man-made South China Sea islet, flouting new Chinese law

US sails ship through South China Sea days after China institutes new maritime ID rules

A US destroyer sailed near the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea on Wednesday, the US Navy's 7th Fleet announced, days after China imposed new maritime identification rules that include the disputed body of water.

China lashes out, deploys fighter jets after US warship sails past Mischief Reef in South China Sea

Lashing out at the US, China deployed fighter jets on Wednesday after a frontline American warship sailed past a reef close to the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea (SCS).    China called the incident the “biggest destroyer of peace”. The SCS is one of the world’s busiest maritime trade lanes.    Calling it a part of Freedom of Navigation Operation (FONOP), the US navy’s destroyer USS Benfold sailed past the Mischief Reef, located …

U.S. warship sails near man-made South China Sea islet, flouting new Chinese law

The U.S. Navy vessel passed near a Chinese-held island for the first time since Beijing began implementing a law requiring foreign vessels to give notice before entering waters it claims.

US Navy blasts China over 'false' claim about destroyer in South China Sea

The US Navy’s 7th Fleet said in a statement Wednesday that the destroyer USS Benfold asserted its navigational rights in the South China Sea and called China’s earlier claim about the voyage “false.”

China lashes out after US warship sails past Mischief Reef in South China Sea

China claims nearly the entire South China Sea including the Spratly Islands but several of its neighbours including The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei have competing claims over the islands and reefs.

US aircraft carrier, destroyer busy in South China Sea despite Beijing’s new notification law

The guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold “asserted navigation rights and freedoms” within 12 nautical miles of Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands, according to the 7th Fleet.