U.S. destroyer sails South China Sea "freedom of navigation" operation

A U.S. Navy destroyer sailed near the China-claimed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea on Saturday in a "freedom of navigation" operation, the 7th Fleet said.The operation involving the destroyer Hopper near the islands also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan is aimed at countering the excessive claims of maritime interests."This freedom of navigation operation upheld the rights, freedoms and lawful uses of the sea recognized in international law by challenging restrictions on innocent passage imposed" by China, Taiwan and Vietnam, the fleet said in a statement.The fleet said the three count…READ FULL ARTICLE