US destroyer sails near artificial island in disputed South China Sea

WASHINGTON: A US Navy destroyer carried out a “freedom of navigation operation” on Thursday, coming within 12 nautical miles of an artificial island built up by China in the South China Sea, officials said.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the USS John S McCain travelled close to Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands, among a string of islets, reefs and shoals. China has territorial disputes with its neigh- bours over the area.

It was the third “freedom of navigation operation” or “f on op” conducted during Trump’ s presidency. Neither China’ s defence ministry nor its foreign ministry immediately responded to a request for comment.

The operation was 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 cooper- ation to rein in North Korea.

The US has criticized China’s construction of islands and build-up of military facilities in the sea, and is concerned they could be used to restrict free nautical movement.

The US military has a longstanding position that its operations are carried out throughout the world, including in areas claimed by allies, and they are separate from political considerations.