China. Connie Kim looks into the trouble brewing

on the islands built by China on territory claimed by four other countries.

An unnamed U.S. defense official told Reuters on Tuesday... an American destroyer sailed

within 12 nautical miles， or 20 kilometers， of China′s manmade islands

in the South China Sea. The Spratleys are a disputed group of more

than 750 reefs， islets， atolls， cays and islands claimed by four other countries，

including Vietnam and the Philippines. The Pentagon has thus far declined to comment

but had previously said that the patrols are within its rights of free navigation and are

routine，... but Washington′s decision is sure to anger Beijing.

Twelve nautical miles around a territory is internationally recognized as sovereign waters，

but the U.S. does not recognize the manmade islands as China′s sovereign territory.

Washington says the construction of artificial islands on submerged reefs does not entitle

a country to claim a territorial limit. Even though Washington does not recognize

the islands as Chinese territory， this will be the first time the U.S. has breached the

12－mile nautical limit since China began building up the islands in 2013.

Before the U.S. sent the destroyer， Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi advised the U.S.

to ″think again″ before acting， urging the country ″not to act blindly or make

trouble out of nothing.″ China has long stood firm on its claim to

the islands，... saying it would ″never allow any country″ to violate its territorial

waters and airspace in the area. U.S. experts in China caution against further

escalation，... as Washington could launch another patrol near the artificial islands

in the coming weeks. Connie Kim， Arirang News.