China says U.S. destroyer in South China Sea violated its security

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - China's foreign ministry said a U.S. navy destroyer that carried out a "freedom of navigation operation" on Thursday in the South China Sea had violated international and Chinese law and seriously harmed Beijing's sovereignty and security.

U.S. officials earlier told Reuters the USS John S. McCain had travelled close to Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands, among a string of islets, reefs and shoals, an area where China has territorial disputes with its neighbours.