According to the US, a mission was conducted in the South China Sea by a guided-missile destroyer

A navigational rights and freedoms mission was carried out on Monday in the South China Sea close to the Spratly Islands, according to the US Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Milius.

The declaration coincided with rising tensions between China and the US in the region as China’s military practised precision attacks against Taiwan in military manoeuvres around the island.

In accordance with international law, according to the US Navy, the destroyer’s operation.

“USS Milius concluded the operation, departed the excessive claim area, and resumed operations in the South China Sea,” according to a statement from the US Navy. This action to maintain freedom of navigation defended the rights, liberties, and legitimate uses of the sea.

In the South China Sea, close to the Paracel Islands, China claimed that the USS Milius had invaded its territorial waters. This sparked a dispute between China and the US last month.

A large portion of the territory claimed by China overlaps with the exclusive economic zones of several nations, including the Philippines. The waterway facilitates annual trade worth trillions of dollars.