Days after President Duterte announced that he is separating from the U.S. during his four day visit to China, an American guided missile destroyer sailed through the disputed waters in the South China Sea on Friday. The USS Decatur sailed through waters claimed by China, closely passing through Paracel Island under Chinese control.
The latest attempt was to counter Beijing's effort to limit the freedom of navigation in the busy waters.
"This operation demonstrated that coastal states may not unlawfully restrict the navigation rights, freedoms and lawful uses of the sea that the United States and all states are entitled to exercise under international law,' reuters quoted as saying by the White House spokesman Josh Earnest in a news briefing.
The latest attempt was to counter Beijing's effort to limit the freedom of navigation in the busy waters.
"This operation demonstrated that coastal states may not unlawfully restrict the navigation rights, freedoms and lawful uses of the sea that the United States and all states are entitled to exercise under international law,' reuters quoted as saying by the White House spokesman Josh Earnest in a news briefing.
The action had "seriously violated China's sovereignty and security interests, and had seriously broken relevant Chinese law and international law."
The Pentagon said it had sent destroyer USS Decatur close to the Paracel Islands, but the ship had not passed with in the 12 nautical mile zone that international law defines as territorial waters.
The Pentagon said it had sent destroyer USS Decatur close to the Paracel Islands, but the ship had not passed with in the 12 nautical mile zone that international law defines as territorial waters.
Several other nations including the Philippines and Vietnam has overlapping territorial rights in the area.
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