A US navy warship has sailed close to a disputed reef in the South China Sea, a US Department of Defense official says, prompting anger in Beijing which denounced the patrol as illegal and a threat to peace and stability.
Guided missile destroyer the USS William P Lawrence travelled within 12 nautical miles of Chinese-occupied Fiery Cross Reef, defence spokesman Bill Urban said.
The so-called freedom of navigation operation was undertaken to "challenge excessive maritime claims" by China, Taiwan and Vietnam which were seeking to restrict navigation rights in the South China Sea, he said.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said the US ship illegally entered Chinese waters and was tracked and warned.
"This action by the US side threatened China's sovereignty and security interests, endangered the staff and facilities on the reef, and damaged regional peace and stability," he told a daily news briefing.
