A U.S. Navy warship sailed near a disputed reef in the South China Sea on Tuesday in the United States's latest move to challenge maritime claims by China and other countries in the region.
The USS William P. Lawrence, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, sailed within 12 nautical miles of Fiery Cross Reef, which is part of the disputed Spratly Islands occupied by China, Reuters reported. The Pentagon said the freedom of navigation exercise was carried out to challenge "excessive maritime claims" made by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam in the South China Sea.
All three nations have laid claim to the reef and have sought to restrict navigation rights around it in the South China Sea, which the Pentagon described as contrary to international law. The Philippines also claims Fiery Cross Reef as its territory.
"These excessive maritime claims are inconsistent with international law as reflected in the Law of the Sea Convention in that they purport to restrict the navigation rights that the United States and all states are entitled to exercise," a Defense Department spokesman told Reuters.
China said in January that it had completed a runway on the reef, with state media releasing photos of commercial jets on the structure.
China’s Foreign Ministry sharply criticized the passage of the U.S. ship, labeling it illegal.
"The relevant Chinese department took measures of monitoring, tracking and warning in accordance with the law. I have to point out, this action by the U.S. side threatened China’s sovereignty and security interests, endangered the staff and facilities on the reef, and damaged regional peace and stability," spokesman Lu Kang said.
China’s Defense Ministry said it scrambled two fighter jets and sent three warships to shadow the U.S. destroyer.
The freedom of navigation exercise was the third the U.S. Navy has conducted in the South China Sea since last October in response to China’s territorial claims, which has strained U.S.-China relations.
Defense Secretary Ash Carter has warned China against "militarizing" the South China Sea by moving surface-to-air missiles to the islands it claims. China has responded by accusing the United States of militarizing the sea.