US sends warships near Hoang Sa archipelago

Guided missile destroyer USS Chafee conducts freedom of navigation operation near Paracel Islands.

Destroyer USS Chafee. Photo: Reuters

A US Navy destroyer on October 10 sailed near islands claimed by China in the Paracel Islands, which belong to Vietnam, Reuters reported, citing three unnamed US officials.

The operation is the latest effort by Washington as Beijing disrupts freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.

The Chafee challenged “excessive claims” near the Paracel Islands, which China illegally occupies from Vietnam, officials said.

The Chafee approached the Paracel Islands but did not enter the 12-nautical-mile zone. In August, a US ship sailed within that zone around an artificial island illegally built by China in the South China Sea.

The Pentagon has not commented on the operation, but said the US conducts freedom of navigation operations regularly and will continue to do so.

In early July, the US guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem sailed within 12 nautical miles of Triton Island in the Paracels. Matt Knight, a spokesman for the Pacific Fleet, said the “excessive maritime claims” of 22 countries were challenged in the past fiscal year.

According to VNE