south china sea

The operation was meant to challenge three countries' competing claims over the island.
Australia, a staunch U.S. ally, has so far refused to participate in freedom-of-navigation exercises in the fear of alienating Beijing.
This is the first such challenge to Beijing under President Trump.
The plane was carrying out a routine mission over the South China Sea, according to an Air Force official.
The U.S. has criticized what it calls China’s militarization of its maritime outposts.
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