A United States Navy destroyer entered waters near the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea on Saturday, the Pentagon announced, in direct defiance of China's claims that the island group falls within Chinese borders.

A spokesman for the US defense department said the American guided missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur patrolled waters off Triton Island, on the southern tip of the Paracel Island Group, in an operation meant to demonstrate Washington's defiance of overlapping territorial claims oVER the area.

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"The operation challenged attempts by the three claimants -- China, Taiwan and Vietnam -- to restrict navigation rights and freedoms," Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis told the press.

China claims most of the South China Sea, a vital international trade route through which an estimated $5 trillion in ship-borne commerce passes each year.  Brunei, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines have rival claims, and the diplomatic row over the territory has elevated tensions in Southeast Asia over the past few months.    

Conflicting Narratives

The US naval operation drew pointed criticism from Beijing, which said the move was "intentionally provocative" and "irresponsible and extremely dangerous."

In a statement published by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Beijing claims that the Chinese navy quickly responded to the provocation by sending out vessels to conduct identification checks and issue warnings for the US warship to keep its distance.

"Regardless of whatever provocative steps the American side takes, China's military will take all necessary measures to firmly safeguard national sovereignty and security," the statement said.

Beijing's account of the incident, however, runs contrary to the US narrative on the patrol, which says no Chinese vessels were seen in the vicinity of the USS Wilbur throughout its transit near the contested islands.

"No claimants were notified prior to the transit, which is consistent with our normal process and international law," said Davis, who emphasized that the US takes no sides in the territorial row over the South China Sea.

"No Problem"

The latest US sortie into what China claims for its territorial waters comes after calls from US Congress for the Obama administration to follow up its freedom of navigation operation last October, in which the USS Lassen sailed within 12 nautical miles of one of China's manmade islands in the Spratly Islands.

US Senator John McCain had earlier criticized the Obama administration for delaying more freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea.  He said the delay allowed China to pursue its territorial ambitions in the South China Sea, where it has now established a pervasive -- and often intimidating -- naval presence. 

McCain welcomed news of the USS Wilbur's operation.    

"I continue to hope these operations will become so routine that China and other claimants will come to accept them as normal occurrences and releasing press statements to praise them will no longer be necessary," McCain said in a statement issued ON Saturday.

The Chinese government had earlier lashed back at critics of its South China Sea policy, accusing "some countries" of exaggerating tensions in the territory.

"I want to declare once again that there is no problem with freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea," said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei on Tuesday. "Countries outside the region should respect other countries' sovereignty."  

TagsChina-US relations, Territorial disputes in the South China Sea, Paracel Islands