US ship makes a point

Beijing: A United States warship sailed by islands claimed by China in the South China Sea yesterday in a freedom of navigation operation, marking the latest move by Washington to challenge Beijing’s territorial claims in the contested waters.

The US Navy said destroyer USS Russell ‘‘asserted navigational rights and freedoms in the Spratly Islands, consistent with international law’’.

The ship’s pass by the Spratly Islands follows a joint exercise by two US carrier groups in South China Sea and another warship sailing near Chinesecontrolled Paracel islands earlier this month. Those actions had suggested that the Biden Administration was not about to scale back operations challenging Beijing’s claims after the increase seen during the Trump administration.