U.S. warship to patrol near islands built by China in the South China Sea

The Navy destroyer USS Lassen will sail within 12 nautical miles of artificial islands in the South China Sea to challenge China's territorial and maritime claims in the waters, a senior U.S. defense official said Monday.

The Lassen could make its way to the Subi and Mischief reefs in the Spratly Islands as early as Tuesday, the official said, making it the first time a Navy warship has sailed within the territorial limit claimed by China for six reefs and shoals it has been building up into islands. The reefs used to be mostly submerged at high tide, but over the past two years satellite photos show they have been expanded, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The Philippines, Vietnam, and Taiwan all claim parts of the South China Sea, which is one of the busiest waterways in the world, with more than $5 trillion worth of trade passing through annually. The United States has not taken a formal position on the claims, but does believe the islands are in international waters and challenges China's claim to nearly the entire sea as its territory. On Monday, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said that "ensuring the free flow of this commerce and that freedom of navigation of those vessels is protected is critically important to the global economy."

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