THE US NAVY PURSUES THE INTERNATIONAL FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION 12 NAUTICAL MILES FROM THE SPRATLY AND PARCELS MANMADE WITH AIRSTRIP ISLAND IN THE SOUTH SEA - AS SATURDAY MARKED THE SECOND FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION PATROL BEGUN IN OCTOBER, 2015 BY THE DESTROYER USS LASSEN- THIS TIME WITH THE DESTROYER USS CURTIS WILBUR

A US Navy guided-missile destroyer sailed within 12 nautical miles of an island claimed by China and two other nations in the South China Sea on Saturday (Jan 30), in an operation the Pentagon said aimed to challenge efforts to restrict freedom of navigation.
China claims most of the South China Sea, through which more than US$5 trillion (S$ 7 trillion)  of world trade is shipped every year. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Taiwan have rival claims.
Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis said no ships from China’s military were in the vicinity of the USS Curtis Wilbur when it passed near Triton Island in the Paracel Islands. “This operation challenged attempts by the three claimants - China, Taiwan and Vietnam – to restrict navigation rights and freedoms,” Davis said, reflecting the US position that the crucial sea lane should be treated as international waters.

http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/us-warship-sails-near-island-claimed-by-china-in-south-china-sea