The U.S. Navy has confirmed that it deployed a destroyer to the South China Sea to conduct a “freedom of navigation” mission, directly challenging territorial claims and maritime restrictions imposed by China. The operation took place near the Spratly Islands—an area claimed by multiple countries, including China, the Philippines, Vietnam, and others—amid heightened military tensions in the Indo-Pacific.
The USS Dewey carried out the mission, which the U.S. Seventh Fleet says was intended to affirm international navigation rights and challenge restrictions on innocent passage imposed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
A spokesperson emphasized that the operation aligned with international law, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which grants all nations the right to innocent passage through territorial waters.
This U.S. maneuver follows recent sightings of Chinese bombers in the region and coincides with a broader American military buildup in the Indo-Pacific. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz has also been operating in the area since early May, likely in one of its final overseas missions ahead of its expected 2026 retirement.
Images released by the U.S. Navy show the USS Benfold, a sister ship of the USS Dewey, also operating in the region. One photo appears to depict crew members translating radio communications from Chinese forces, suggesting a possible encounter between U.S. and Chinese naval vessels.
In response, China’s Foreign Ministry denied any obstruction of freedom of navigation, insisting that the country abides by international law. The ministry reaffirmed China’s willingness to resolve disputes diplomatically, while also defending its territorial and maritime claims.
UNCLOS allows all states—coastal or landlocked—the right to innocent passage through territorial seas, provided such movement is continuous and non-threatening.
