Story highlights
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The USS Curtis Wilbur sailed within 12 nautical miles of the Triton
Island
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The island is claimed by China, Taiwan and Vietnam
(CNN)The U.S. Navy sent
a ship near a contested island in the South China Sea on Saturday
to challenge "excessive maritime claims that restrict the rights and
freedoms of the United States and others," a U.S. Defense Department
spokesman told CNN.
"This operation challenged
attempts by the three claimants, China, Taiwan and Vietnam, to restrict
navigation rights and freedoms around the features they claim by policies that
require prior permission or notification of transit within territorial
seas," Cmdr. Bill Urban said.
"This operation demonstrates,
as President Obama and Secretary [Ash] Carter have stated, the United States
will fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows. That is true in
the South China Sea, as in other places around the globe."
The USS Curtis
Wilbur, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, sailed
within 12 nautical miles of the Triton Island, part of the Paracel Islands --
an archipelago claimed by the three.
None of them was notified of the
move.
"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," Urban said. "The United States takes no position on
competing sovereignty claims between the parties to naturally formed land
features in the South China Sea. The United States does take a strong position
on protecting the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the sea and airspace
guaranteed to all countries, and that all maritime claims must comply with
international law."
A spokeswoman for China's Foreign
Ministry denounced the action.
"The U.S. naval ship violated
Chinese law to enter China's territorial waters. China monitored the ship's
movement and issued verbal messages in accordance with law," Hua Chunying
said. "We urge the U.S. side to respect and abide by relevant laws of
China, and do more to improve mutual trust as well as regional peace and
stability."
The U.S. conducted a similar
operation in October. China said it warned that warship, the USS
Lassen, as it came close to reefs claimed by China in contested waters.
Cui Tiankai, the Chinese ambassador
to the United States, told CNN's
Christiane Amanpour that the operation was "a very serious
provocation, politically and militarily."
Much of the South China Sea is
subject to a series of territorial disputes between Asian nations.
And near the Spratly Islands, which
Beijing calls the Nansha islands, China has built an artificial island with air
strips that analysts
believe will be able to accommodate bombers.
CNN's Steven Jiang contributed to
this report
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