US warship challenged the statements of China
The U.S. Navy destroyer for the first time, sailed close to the disputed island of South China sea, controlled by China under the leadership of the President of the United States Donald trump.
According to American officials, the destroyer USS Dewey sailed within 12 miles (20 kilometers) from the reef Mischief Reef in the network of the Spratly Islands on Wednesday, under the "freedom of navigation". Although the specific operation has not been confirmed, the press Secretary of the Pentagon captain Jeff Davis said: "We are working in the Asia-Pacific region, including in the South China sea." "We act in accordance with international law. We fly, float and work where permitted by international law", - he added.
China claim ownership of the overwhelming majority of the South China sea, including the chain of Islands Parasel ' and the spratlys, which are being disputed by many other countries, including the Philippines and Vietnam. The Chinese government has developed the grounds and built artificial Islands in the sea, including Mischief reef, Reef, and deployed them for military installations.
Chinese officials have previously described the operation of the US freedom of navigation as a serious violation of the law and a deliberate provocation. The Pentagon said such operations "are not associated with any country or with any one water."
The United States regularly carried out operations for the freedom of navigation in the South China sea at the former President of the United States Barack Obama, but there have been suggestions that the administration trump put in front of them in order to avoid antagonism with China.
Earlier this year, the U.S. military has requested permission to conduct operations freedom of navigation, but the Pentagon rejected the proposal in an effort to ease relations with the United States in China, told CNN the representative of the defence Department of the USA.
According to representatives of the media, new actions of the U.S. Navy in the South China sea took place, when Chinese President XI Jinping praised the Navy of his country at the 12th party Congress of the people's liberation army.
In his speech at the meeting, XI praised the work of the fleet and said he wanted to build them into a strong and modern force. In April 2010, the Chinese Navy launched its first domestic aircraft carrier, the second in its fleet, as part of their efforts to create "Navy", capable of functioning anywhere in the world.
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