The USS Higgins in Haifa, Israel, in 2009. The Chinese military said Wednesday that the destroyer had entered the waters of the disputed Scarborough Shoal 'without approval of the Chinese government.' Share Save for later Please log in to bookmark this story. Log In Create Free Account

China’s military said on Wednesday it monitored and “drove away” a U.S. destroyer that sailed near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the busy waterway of the South China Sea , while the U.S. Navy said its action was in line with international law.

The first known U.S. military operation in at least six years within the shoal’s waters came a day after the Philippines accused Chinese vessels of “dangerous manoeuvres and unlawful interference” during a supply mission around the atoll.

See Full Page