The United States under President Donald Trump has challenged China by sailing its Navy destroyer near a disputed South China Sea island controlled by China.
The USS Dewey, a guided -missile destroyer sailed within 12 nautical miles (20kms) of Mischief Reef, one of a chain of disputed islands in the South China Sea .
Two Chinese frigates "warned and dispelled" the USS Dewey and said it entered its waters "without permission".
"We firmly opposed to the U.S. behaviour of showing force and boosting regional militarization and have made solemn representation to the US side, CNN quoted China's Defence Ministry spokesman Ren Guoqiang as saying.
China claims ownership of the South China Sea including the Paracel and Spratly islands, a claim disputed by several other countries, including the Phillipines and Vietnam.
However, the US said it was her right as per the international law.
This is the first operation on the Freedom of Navigation under U.S President Donald Trump which Pentagon termed the patrols "are not about any one country, or any one body of water".
Pentagon Spokesperson Capt. Jeff Davis said, "We operate in the Asia-Pacific region on a daily basis, including in the South China Sea, in accordance with international law. We fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)