[Beijing 16th Archyde.com]–The US Navy announced that it had launched a destroyer on the 16th near the Spratly Islands (Chinese name: Nansha) Islands in the South China Sea, where China and others claim sovereignty. This is the second time in a week that a US destroyer has conducted a “freedom of navigation” operation in the South China Sea, following the 13th.
“On July 16, the destroyer Benfold claimed navigation rights and freedom in accordance with international law near the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea,” the US Navy said in a statement.
When the US destroyer “Benfold” sailed near the Paracel Islands (Chinese name: Paracel Islands) on the 13th, Chinese troops issued a statement saying, “Illegal invasion of China’s Paracel Islands without the approval of the Chinese government.” “It significantly impaired the peace and stability of the South China Sea and violated international law and rules of international relations,” he said.