Reuters: U.S. Navy to send destroyer within 12 miles of Chinese islands
The U.S. Navy plans to send a guided-missile destroyer within 12 nautical miles of artificial islands built by China in the South China Sea, in the start of a series of challenges to China's territorial claims in one of the world's busiest sea lanes.
A U.S. defense official said the patrol by the USS Lassen would occur early on Tuesday local time near Subi and Mischief reefs in the Spratly archipelago, features that were formerly submerged at high tide before China began a massive dredging project to turn them into islands in 2014.
The patrols would mark the most serious U.S. challenge yet to the 12-nautical-mile territorial limit China claims around the islands and are certain to anger Beijing, which said last month it would "never allow any country" to violate its territorial waters and airspace in the Spratlys.
More News On The US Navy Sailing Near Islands Claimed by China
U.S. destroyer to pass islands in South China Sea within 24 hours -- CNN
US Navy to Sail Near Reefs Claimed by China -- AP
US to send warship close to South China Sea islets -- AFP
US Navy to send warship near disputed islands claimed by China -- FOX News
US to Send Ship Close to Chinese Artificial Islands -- VOA
US Navy ship to sail near China islands -- BBC
Report: U.S. Navy to sail up to China's man-made islands -- Politico
U.S. Said to Allow Navy Patrol by Disputed Chinese-Made Islands -- Bloomberg
US Navy Set to Send Destroyer Within 12 Nautical Miles of Subi, Mischief Reefs -- The Diplomat
US to defy Beijing over South China Sea -- Financial Times
US plans to send destroyer to China’s artificial islands – reports -- RT