US destroyer sails close to disputed island in the South China Sea

[AbuzarIlyas]

(CNN)A US Navy destroyer on Sunday sailed within 12 miles of a disputed island in the South China Sea that is claimed by China, a US military official told CNN.

The US Navy conducted a "freedom of navigation exercise" around Triton Island in the Paracel archipelago, which is claimed by China, Vietnam and Taiwan.
As part of the exercise, the guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem came within 12 miles of Triton, sailing into what China claims to be its territorial waters. The US does not recognize Beijing's claim of sovereignty over the islands, which it has occupied and on which it has been building fortifications.
The Pentagon declined to comment on the exercise.

http://edition.cnn.com/2017/07/02/politics/us-navy-south-china-sea/index.html

 

[Penguin]

The island, which is part of the Paracels, is administrated by the People's Republic of China but is also claimed by the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Vietnam.

On January 30, 2016, the United States warship USS Curtis Wilbur passed within 12 nautical miles of the island. The Pentagon stated that they had notified none of the three claimants to the island beforehand, and claimed the reason for the transit was to protect freedom of navigation, "consistent with international law". The People's Republic of China called the voyage "provocative" and that it "violated relevant Chinese laws by entering Chinese territorial waters without prior permission". Three months previously, in October 2015, the USS Lassen sailed within 12 nautical miles of the manmade island at Subi Reef (part of the Spratleys).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triton_Island

Nothing new under the sun.