The Chinese military has shadowed a US warship as it traveled near reefs fortified to bolster Beijing s sweeping territorial claims in the South China Sea.
The USS John S. McCain guided-missile destroyer passed through the Spratly Islands on Tuesday as part of a freedom of navigation operation, the Navy said in a statement.
As the ship passed near Chinese military installations on Gaven Reef and Johnson South Reef, a Chinese warship shadowed the McCain, a U.S. official told Fox News. All interactions with foreign military forces were consistent with international norms and did not impact the operation, the U.S. 7th Fleet said in a statement about the operation.