District of Columbia: A US Navy ship has sailed in disputed South China Sea waters near a reef claimed by Beijing, a US official said.

The USS Dewey sailed "less than 12 nautical miles" from Mischief Reef, part of the the Spratly Islands, in a "freedom of navigation operation," the official said.

It is Washington`s first such exercise under the administration of Donald Trump. </s> The destroyer USS Dewey shown here during a supply replenishment on May 19 in the South China Sea, sailed within 12 nautical miles of Mischief Reef, a China-occupied territory, as part of the first freedom-of-navigation operation undertaken under the Trump administration.

A U.S. Navy destroyer sailed near a disputed South China Sea island controlled by China, the first such operation since Donald Trump became president, according to a CNN report.

The destroyer USS Dewey conducted a freedom-of-navigation operation on Wednesday within 12 nautical miles of Mischief Reef, which is part of the Spratly Island chain, CNN said, citing an unnamed U.S. official.

The ship has been patrolling the South China Sea since at least May 5, according to photos posted on the Navy’s official website.

China asserts a territorial claim around Mischief Reef and all of the Spratly Islands, despite competing claims from several neighboring countries.

Although islands generate a 12-nautical mile territorial water zone, most international maritime law experts consider Mischief Reef a low-tide elevation with artificial construction, which would generate at most a 500-meter safety zone.

Pentagon spokesman Maj. Jamie Davis declined to confirm the operation, saying in a written statement that operational summaries will be released publicly in a report “and not sooner.”

“We are continuing regular FONOPS, as we have routinely done in the past and will continue to do in the future,” Davis wrote, adding that in fiscal year 2016 the U.S. conducted freedom of navigation operations “challenging excessive maritime claims of 22 coastal states, including allies and partners.”

The last freedom-of-navigation operation in the South China Sea took place in October, when the destroyer USS Decatur sailed near the disputed Paracel Islands.

This story will be updated. </s> Image copyright REUTERSImage caption China has built extensively on Mischief Reef and installed military positionsA US warship has sailed close to an artificial island built by China in the South China Sea, the first challenge to Beijing's claim to the waters since President Donald Trump took office.According to unnamed sources cited by US media, the USS Dewey passed within 12 nautical miles of Mischief Reef.China said the US vessel had entered its waters "without permission" and its navy had warned it to leave.The US insists it can conduct operations in any international waters.It says it does not take sides in territorial disputes, but has sent military ships and planes near disputed islands in the past, calling them "freedom of navigation" operations to ensure access to key shipping and air routes.It has also repeatedly criticised what it sees as Beijing's efforts to limit freedom of navigation in the strategic waters.China claims almost all of the South China Sea, including reefs and islands also claimed by other nations. </s> A US warship sailed near a reef claimed by Beijing in the South China Sea on Thursday, a US official said, the first such operation by US President Donald Trump's administration in the disputed waterway.

The USS Dewey sailed "less than 12 nautical miles" from Mischief Reef - part of the Spratly Islands - early Thursday morning local time, the official said on condition of anonymity.

The guided-missile destroyer's "freedom of navigation operation" is likely to provoke anger from Beijing as the Trump administration attempts to draw support from China on reining in North Korea.

China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, despite partial counter-claims from Taiwan and several southeast Asian nations including the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

It has rapidly built reefs into artificial islands capable of hosting military planes. </s> WASHINGTON, May 24 (Reuters) - A U.S. Navy destroyer carried out a "freedom of navigation operation" on Wednesday within 12 nautical miles of an artificial island built up by China in the South China Sea, U.S. officials said, the first such action under President Donald Trump.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the USS Dewey was traveling close to Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands, in a challenge to China's territorial claims. (Reporting by Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart and Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Peter Cooney) </s> A US navy warship sailed within 12 nautical miles of an artificial island built up by China, US officials have said, the first such challenge to Beijing under the Trump administration.



The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the USS Dewey was sailing close to the Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands, among a string islets, reefs and shoals over which China has territorial disputes with its neighbours.

The so-called “freedom of navigation operation” comes at a time when president Donald Trump is seeking China’s cooperation to rein in North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.

The move, the latest attempt to counter what Washington sees as Beijing’s efforts to limit freedom of navigation in the strategic waters, is likely to anger China.

Under the previous administration, the US navy conducted such voyages through the South China Sea. The last such operation was carried out in October, approved by then-president Barack Obama.

China’s extensive claims to the South China Sea, which sees about $5 trillion in ship-borne trade pass every year, are challenged by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, as well as Taiwan. </s> China says it warned off a US Navy destroyer near a group of disputed islets in the South China Sea last week.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Saturday that the USS Hopper missile destroyer sailed within 12 nautical miles of the Scarborough Shoal, called Huangyan Island in China, on Wednesday night.

“The Chinese navy carried out identification and verification procedures in accordance with the law and warned the US vessel to leave,” Lu said.

“China is strongly dissatisfied with the [US action] and will take necessary measures to firmly safeguard its sovereignty.”

The encounter between the two navies adds to long-standing tension between the United States and China in waters contested by at least six nations.

Just over a year ago, a US Navy plane and a Chinese surveillance aircraft flew within 300 metres (1,000 feet) of each other near the Scarborough Shoal.

The shoal off the western coast of the Philippines is seen as a strategic point among the claimants because it is within easy striking distance of US forces stationed in the Philippines. A military outpost there could also stop other navies from using a northeast gateway to the area.

Beijing and Manila have tussled over the shoal on and off since 2013, when Manila took its case to an international tribunal in The Hague. The tribunal ruled in 2016 that the “nine-dash line” which underpins Beijing’s claim to most of the South China Sea had no legal basis.

Nevertheless, China has built artificial islands and facilities on other disputed parts of the waters, according to satellite images.

The US does not claim sovereignty of the waters but says it has the right to conduct freedom-of-navigation operations in the area.

Zhang Jie, a Southeast Asian affairs specialist at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the incident on Wednesday would have been the first time a US Navy destroyer had gone so close the islets, which she described as a “very sensitive region”. Beijing considers any US patrols within 12 nautical miles of the islands as an intrusion into its territorial waters.

In June 2016, the US sent a total of three destroyers to conduct patrols within 14 to 20 nautical miles of the shoal and the Spratly Islands.

Zhang said the shoal was the Philippines’ unspoken bottom line in its quiet diplomacy with China on the South China Sea.

“The current diplomatic approach of the Philippines is to make the sovereignty [over the shoal] ambiguous,” she said.

“It has asked China not to build on the shoal, which China has not. The mutual preference of both the Philippines and China over this particular [shoal] is stability.”

Zhang said she expected to see more frequent confrontations between the US and Chinese militaries in the South China Sea, with Washington putting China and Russia at the centre of its new national defence strategy.

“The South China Sea will be the ground on which the two powers will wrestle for military power. It has become a long-term conflict,” she said. </s> Image copyright Reuters Image caption China has built extensively on Mischief Reef and installed military positions

A US warship has sailed close to an artificial island built by China in the South China Sea, the first challenge to Beijing's claim to the waters since President Donald Trump took office.

According to unnamed sources cited by US media, the USS Dewey passed within 12 nautical miles of Mischief Reef.

China said the US vessel had entered its waters "without permission" and its navy had warned it to leave.

The US insists it can conduct operations in any international waters.

It says it does not take sides in territorial disputes, but has sent military ships and planes near disputed islands in the past, calling them "freedom of navigation" operations to ensure access to key shipping and air routes.

It has also repeatedly criticised what it sees as Beijing's efforts to limit freedom of navigation in the strategic waters.

China claims almost all of the South China Sea, including reefs and islands also claimed by other nations.

Image copyright US Navy Image caption China said the USS Dewey (left) entered the area "without its permission"

Foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang condemned the US move.

"The act damaged China's sovereignty and security interests, and could have easily led to an air or sea accident," he told reporters.

"[China] resolutely opposes any country sailing or flying freely that could pose damage to China's sovereignty and security interests. At present, through the joint efforts of China and Asean countries, the South China Sea situation has cooled down.

"The acts of the United States have seriously disrupted the process of dialogue and consultation."

What is Freedom of Navigation?

The US Freedom of Navigation programme challenges "excessive claims" to the world's oceans and airspace.

It was developed to promote international adherence to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

In the past years, the US conducted Freedom of Navigation operations against China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

China has been causing alarm in the region by building up South China Sea reefs and islets into artificial islands and installing some military positions.

Both the US and China have accused each other of "militarising" the South China Sea and there are concerns the area is becoming a flashpoint with potentially serious global consequences.

Last year, an international tribunal rejected China's claims to the area, in a case brought by the Philippines.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration said there was no evidence that China had historically exercised exclusive control over the waters or resources within its "nine-dash line".

China rejected the ruling as "ill-founded" and said it would not be bound by it.

The latest US manoeuvre is likely to weigh on US-China relations as the Trump administration is seeking Beijing's co-operation to deal with North Korea's nuclear ambitions.

Earlier this month, Chinese fighter jets intercepted a US aircraft which, according to US military officials, was on a mission to detect radiation in international airspace.

China did not comment on that particular incident - it has in the past accused the US of carrying out reconnaissance flights over Chinese coastal waters.

The South China Sea dispute

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption In 2015, the BBC got a view of a new Chinese runway on Mischief Reef

Sovereignty over two largely uninhabited island chains, the Paracels and the Spratlys, is disputed by China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan and Malaysia

China claims the largest portion of territory, saying its rights go back centuries - in 1947 it issued a map detailing its claims

The area is a major shipping route, and a rich fishing ground, and is thought to have abundant oil and gas reserves </s> A U.S. Navy destroyer carried out a "freedom of navigation operation" on Wednesday within 12 nautical miles of an artificial island built up by China in the South China Sea, U.S. officials said, the first such action under President Donald Trump.

WASHINGTON: A U.S. Navy destroyer carried out a "freedom of navigation operation" on Wednesday within 12 nautical miles of an artificial island built up by China in the South China Sea, U.S. officials said, the first such action under President Donald Trump.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the USS Dewey was travelling close to Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands, in a challenge to China's territorial claims.
The USS Dewey sails within 12 nautical miles of the disputed Mischief Reef in the South China Sea.