WASHINGTON POST: A U.S. naval destroyer sailed early Tuesday within 12 nautical miles of an artificial island built by China in the South China Sea, a U.S. defense official said, in a direct challenge to China’s territorial claims.
China responded by calling the action illegal, dangerous and provocative, expressing “strong discontent” and “resolute opposition” and saying the move had damaged regional peace and stability…
The U.S action is intended to uphold the principle of freedom of navigation in the international waters of the South China Sea, U.S. officials said, and underscore that Washington does not accept China’s claim to territorial waters around artificially built islands… (more)
EDITOR: In the long run, what the U. S. Navy did yesterday is far more important than what we do in the Middle East.
