Beijing urges Washington to end ‘provocative actions’ in South China Sea after US warships conduct ‘freedom of navigation’ mission

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China slammed “provocative” American operations in the South China Sea after US Navy warships passed by several strategic islands claimed by Beijing. Washington, as usual, says it is only protecting the “freedom of navigation.”

The USS ‘Gabrielle Giffords,’ a littoral combat ship, buzzed by Mischief Reef near the Spratly Islands at a distance of 12 nautical miles earlier this week, Navy officials confirmed to Reuters. The destroyer USS ‘Wayne E. Meyer,’ meanwhile, passed near the Paracel Islands on Thursday.

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