China and U.S. Clash Over South China Sea Navigation Rights

Tensions escalate as China claims to have expelled a U.S. destroyer from disputed waters, a move contested by the U.S. Navy.

China's military reportedly drove away the USS Halsey from the Paracel Islands, citing violations of its sovereignty.
The U.S. Navy insists its operations were in line with international law, aiming to assert navigational freedoms.
Recent incidents have heightened regional tensions, particularly involving U.S. allies like the Philippines.
Beijing's expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea are challenged by multiple Southeast Asian nations.
The 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration dismissed Beijing's extensive territorial claims as legally baseless.