Politics
08:28, 11-Aug-2017
China protests about US's third 'freedom of navigation'
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China's Defense Ministry has urged the US to respect China's sovereignty and security interests after a US navy destroyer carried out a "freedom of navigation operation" on Thursday in the South China Sea.
The Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said Chinese navy issued a warning after it detected the sailing of the US ship within Chinese water.
US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the USS John S. McCain traveled close to Nansha Islands, a string of islets, reefs and shoals.
It is the third "freedom of navigation operation" during Trump's presidency. Thursday's operation is seen as 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 Pyongyang.
China's Foreign Ministry also protested about the US action late Thursday evening. The spokesman Geng Shuang said the US Navy destroyer's action violates Chinese and international law, and severely harmed Chinese sovereignty and security.