British Defense Secretary Says Warship Bound for South China Sea: Media

British Defense Secretary Says Warship Bound for South China Sea: Media
This picture taken on April 21, 2017 shows an aerial view of reefs in the disputed Spratly islands in the South China sea. Ted Aljibe/AFP/Getty Images
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SYDNEY—A British warship will sail through the South China Sea next month to assert freedom-of-navigation rights, British Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said in remarks published on Tuesday.

British officials first flagged the voyage six months ago and the journey is likely to stoke tensions with China, who claim control of most of the area and have built military facilities on land features in the sea. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims to the energy-rich sea that carries billion of dollars in trade.