US warship sails into South China Sea amid trade war

(Patria) – The US military reported that one of its warships sailed past the disputed Scarborough Shoal, claimed by China, on Sunday.  

This move could escalate existing tensions between the two countries, which are also said to be in a trade war, in addition to earlier issues related to sanctions and the Taiwan question, Reuters reports.

China took a more aggressive stance in the trade dispute with the US on Friday by imposing higher tariffs in response to a similar previous move by the US side.

'The US warship Preble sailed 12 nautical miles from the Scarborough Shoal to challenge excessive claims (to territory) and preserve access to waterways governed by international law,' explained Commander Clay Doss, spokesperson for the Seventh Fleet, in the second such operation in the last month.

The operation is an attempt by Washington to counter China's efforts to restrict freedom of navigation in strategic waters where Japan, China, and other Southeast Asian navies operate.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea and often criticizes the US and its allies for operations near Chinese islands.

The country's position is that freedom of navigation should not be used to the detriment of other states' rights.