(VOVworld) – On Friday, the White House said that the latest operations of the US’ Naval Forces on the East Sea aim to prove the freedom of navigation in the international territorial waters recognized by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

US guided-missile destroyer USS Decatur. (Photo: US Naval Forces)

At a press briefing White House spokesman Josh Earnest noted that China should not consider the US’ performance a provocative act, adding that the US is not a party of the dispute in the East Sea. Washington’s stance is that the conflict should be resolved through negotiations instead of using or threatening to use force.

The same day, the Pentagon confirmed that the guided-missile destroyer USS Decatur sailed near Hoang Sa/Paracel Islands and "conducted this transit in a routine, lawful manner without ship escorts and without incident."

This is the third activity the US has conducted in the East Sea this year to demonstrate the freedom of navigation.

The Chinese Defense Ministry condemned the move and called it "illegal" and "provocative".