US to press patrols in disputed South China Sea

An American official says the US Navy will continue patrolling the disputed South China Sea after a Chinese destroyer came dangerously close to one of its ships during a “freedom of navigation” sail-by near a contested reef.

Adm. John Richardson, who heads US naval operations, said at a news conference with Philippine military officials in Manila on Monday that such patrols highlighted the US position against “illegitimate maritime claims.”

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a separate news conference that some “nonregional countries” were stirring up trouble in the disputed waters and “have been showing off their force.”

Wang said China and Southeast Asian nations should guard against foreign interference, in a reference to repeated Chinese allegations of US meddling in an Asian territorial dispute.