The US Navy will send more warships to sail close to artificial islands built by Beijing in the South China Sea, a US official said Tuesday.
The USS Lassen guided missile destroyer sailed within 12 nautical miles of at least one of the land formations claimed by China in the disputed Spratly Islands chain early Tuesday local time.
The move infuriated Beijing, which summoned the US ambassador and denounced what it called a threat to its sovereignty.
"We will do it again," the official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.