A day after China fired ballistic missiles into the South China Sea, an American warship sailed near the disputed Paracel Islands, the US Navy has said, challenging Beijing's claims on the resource-rich waterway.
The US Navy's Pacific Fleet said in a statement that the USS Mustin, a guided-missile destroyer, sailed on Thursday "in the vicinity of the Paracel Islands to ensure critical shipping lanes in the area remain free and open".
The Chinese military on Friday accused the US ship of entering "China's territorial waters" near the islands "without authorisation".
Kate Middleton's Necklace at Prince Philip's funeral honours the Royal family
Covid surge: UK Oppn joins calls for Johnson to cancel India visit
Israel ends requirement to wear masks in public
Date announced for presidential elections in Syria
Meghan Markle sent a handwritten note with a wreath for Prince Philip’s funeral
US, China agree to cooperate on climate crisis with urgency
Kremlin critic Navalny could die any minute: doctors
US woman charged for allegedly threatening to kill Kamala Harris
Prince Philip laid to rest in royal funeral celebrating service to Queen
Myanmar junta pardons more than 23,000 prisoners
William, Harry stand apart for Philip's funeral
Covid-19 deaths pass staggering three million mark worldwide
Queen to bury her 'strength & stay' Prince Philip today
Wuhan under Covid scrutiny, China set to build more bio labs
End of Castro era in Cuba: Fidel's brother Raul is retiring
US: 4 Sikhs among 8 killed in Fedex facility mass shooting
Overwhelming evidence that Covid-19 spreads through air: Lancet
UK clears fugitive billionaire Nirav Modi's extradition to India
Pakistan blocks social media amid anti-France protests
Hong Kong: Billionaire Jimmy Lai jailed for pro-democracy protests