US Navy Challenges China's Sovereignty Claim In Asia-Pacific

China has protested after a US Navy destroyer sailed near a group of artificial islands in the South China Sea. The incident marks the first American challenge to China's territorial claims since President Donald Trump took office.

China's foreign ministry said the USS Dewey had "trespassed" near islands over which China has "indisputable sovereignty".

China claims virtually the entire South China Sea and has aggressively tried to fortify its foothold in recent years by transforming several mostly submerged reefs into island outposts.

The US Defense Department said its forces in the Asia-Pacific region would continue to conduct freedom of navigation operations to "challenge excessive maritime claims in order to preserve the rights, freedoms, and uses of the sea and airspace guaranteed to all nations under international law"

An international tribunal last year rejected most of China's claims to the waters.