US act escalates tensions in South China Sea

Just a month after President Xi Jinping concluded his first state visit to the United States, US guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen entered the waters around China's Zhubi Reef in the South China Sea on Oct 27 without the permission of the Chinese government.

But this should not come as a surprise because Washington had been urging Beijing to halt its reclamation projects in South China Sea. The two sides are yet to reach an agreement on the issue.

On the pretext of "freedom of navigation", USS Lassen's entry into the waters around Zhubi Reef was aimed at hindering China's reclamation projects and preventing its militarily from establishing its presence in the regional waters. The fact is that such "patrols" could sabotage navigation security, which is why China has lodged a protest with the US.