China has lashed out at the United States after two U.S. warships sailed near contested islands in the South China Sea.
The issue has been an on-going sticking point between the two nations... and comes at a time when Washington is seeking Beijing's cooperation on North Korea.
Ro Aram reports.
The Higgins - a guided-missile destroyer - and the Antietam - a guided-missile cruiser reportedly sailed twelve nautical miles of the Paracel Islands on Sunday.
They are a group of islands and reefs in the northern part of the disputed waters of the South China Sea and are contested by China and its neighbors.
This forced China to send its own warships to the area to warn the American vessels to leave.
Other details about the encounter were not immediately known.
Beijing's defense ministry called the U.S. Navy's move a provocation and accused them of violating China's sovereignty.
In a separate statement, China's foreign ministry urged Washington to stop such actions.
The U.S. did not immediately respond, but it has continuously defended its operations in the disputed waters.
Washington has insisted its Navy conducts regular freedom of navigation operations around the world, including in areas claimed by allies, and that they are separate from political considerations.
The latest operation comes at a sensitive time in U.S. and China relations, especially when they are both working on avoiding a potential trade war between them.
Ties have also been strained due to President Trump's cancellation of a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Ro Aram, Arirang News.