U.S. Destroyer Transits Disputed S. China Sea As Trade Talks Begin

A U.S. guided-missile destroyer has sailed through waters claimed by China in the South China Sea, reports Reuters. 

The USS McCampbell carried out a freedom of navigation operation within 12 nautical miles of the Paracel Island chain to challenge excessive claims in the region, a Pacific Fleet spokeswoman said on Monday. 

While the U.S. denied that the operation targeted any one country, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said it lodged formal complaints over the operation. 

The move violated Chinese and international law, said a ministry spokesman. 

China claims much of the waters in the South China Sea, a position disputed by most other states in the region.

The move comes as U.S. and Chinese representatives sit down for face-to-face trade talks in Beijing, the first since both countries agreed last month to suspend an escalating trade war for 90 days.