China protests US Navy sailing near South China Sea claims
https://www.navytimes.com/flashpoints/2017/10/11/china-protests-us-navy-sailing-near-south-china-sea-claims/
China protests US Navy sailing near South China Sea claims
By: The Associated Press 13 hours ago
BEIJING China on Wednesday protested the sailing of a U.S. Navy ship near its territorial claims in the South China Sea, saying it would continue to take measures to protect Beijings interests in the vital waterway claimed by several nations. A U.S. official said the destroyer USS Chafee sailed near the Paracel Islands on Tuesday, coming within 16 nautical miles (30 kilometers) of land. The Navy does not announce such missions in advance and the official spoke on condition of anonymity.
Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying denounced the mission as dangerous and a violation of Chinas sovereignty. She said the military verified the presence of the U.S. ship by sea and air and warned it off.
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