TWO US warships sailed through the South China Sea in a move that risks worsening tensions between the US and Beijing.
Missile destroyers called Preble and Chung Hoon were guided by the US within 12 nautical miles of Gaven and Johnson Reefs in the Spratly Islands two days ago, US military confirmed. Commander Clay Doss said the “innocent passage” aimed “to challenge excessive maritime claims and preserve access to the waterways as governed by international law”. Beijing’s foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said: “The relevant moves by the US ships infringed upon Chinese sovereignty, and damaged the peace, security and good order of the relevant seas. China is strongly dissatisfied with this and resolutely opposed to it.