The United States of America had one of its destroyer ships sail near the waters of an island that China is claiming to be part of their territory.
US Navy destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur sailed within 12 nautical miles, which is the acknowledged territorial waters of an island that is being claimed by China in the South China Sea.
This action is seen as a possible contributor to the increasing tension in the region. It also took place days after US Secretary of State John Kerry visited Beijing. Part of his agenda is to attempt to settle current territorial disputes that have gone on for decades.
The particular island is being claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam, but China also has territorial disputes with Malaysia, the Philippines and other countries in the region.
In a report from Fox News, the USS Curtis Wilbur is conducting a "freedom of navigation operation" Saturday near Triton Island, which is part of the Paracel Island chain in the South China Sea, according to a Pentagon spokesman.
During the "sail by," there were no Chinese warships in the area and thus, no encounter was recorded.
The purpose of the operation was to challenge China's claim on the island, and this was confirmed by Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman. He told Fox News that "this operation was about challenging excessive maritime claims that restrict the rights and freedoms of the United States and others, not about territorial claims to land features."
These operations are unlikely to cease as the US asserts the prevalence of international law over the claims of China that have yet to be acknowledged by the international community. This was reiterated by US Defense Secretary Ash Carter.
"Make no mistake: The United States will fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows, as we do around the world, and the South China Sea is not and will not be an exemption," Carter declared.
According to a report from RT, China has called the operation "illegal" and that the US should have asked for permission from the Chinese government.