WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. warship carried out a "manoeuvring drill" when it sailed within 12 nautical miles of an artificial island built up by China in the South China Sea, to show Beijing it was not entitled to a territorial sea around it, U.S. officials said on Thursday.
The operation near Mischief Reef on Thursday, Pacific time, among a string of islets, reefs and shoals over which China has disputes with its neighbours, was the boldest U.S. challenge yet to Chinese island-building in the strategic waterway.