Exclusive: U.S. warship sails near disputed South China Sea island, officials say
By Idrees Ali and Ben Blanchard WASHINGTON/BEIJING (Reuters) - A U.S. Navy destroyer carried out a "freedom of navigation" operation on Friday, coming within 12 nautical miles of an artificial island built by China in the South China Sea, U.S. officials told Reuters. The operation, which infuriated Beijing, was the latest attempt to counter what Washington sees as China’s efforts to limit freedom of navigation in the strategic waters. China has territorial disputes with its neighbors over the area.