US warship sails close to islands claimed by China

A US navy destroyer sailed near islands claimed by China in the South China Sea yesterday, an American official told Reuters, potentially angering Beijing at a time of tense relations between the two countries.

Beijing and Washington are locked in a trade war. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the USS Decatur travelled within 12 nautical miles of Gaven and Johnson reefs in the Spratly Islands. It was the latest attempt to counter what Washington sees as Beijing’s efforts to limit navigation in the strategic waters, where Chinese, Japanese and some South East Asian navies operate.