TIL Desk/World/Shanghai/ A US Navy destroyer sailed near a disputed territory claimed by China in the South China Sea earlier in the week, US officials said on Saturday, as China’s foreign ministry said it would take ‘necessary measures’ to ensure the protection of its sovereignty.
The incident occurred as US President Donald Trump’s administration seeks Chinese cooperation in dealing with North Korea’s missile and nuclear programs.
On Wednesday evening, the USS Hopper missile destroyer came within 12 nautical miles of Huangyan Island in the South China Sea, China`s foreign ministry said on its website on Saturday. Huangyan Island, also known as the Scarborough Shoal, is a disputed territory claimed by the Philippines as well as China.
Two U.S. officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the USS Hopper had sailed within 12 nautical miles of Scarborough Shoal earlier this week. The officials said the patrol took place in accordance with international law and was an “innocent passage,” in which a warship effectively recognizes a territorial sea by crossing it quickly, without stopping.
