Two U.S. Navy warships sailed near South China Sea islands claimed by China after Beijing landed a nuclear-capable bomber and deployed missiles there, defense officials told Fox News on Sunday. Antietam, a missile cruiser, conducted “freedom of navigation” operations near the Paracel Island chain, including Woody Island, where Beijing has operated an airbase since the 1990s. forces operate in the Asia-Pacific region on a daily basis, including in the South China Sea. CHINESE LAND BOMBER IN SOUTH CHINA SEA, POTENTIALLY ESCALATING TENSIONS OVER DISPUTED ZONEThe South China Sea remains a contested area, with surrounding countries – Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam – disputing China's territorial claims. Earlier this month, China riled Vietnam and the Philippines by landing bombers on a disputed set of islands in the South China Sea.

Source: Fox News May 27, 2018 10:29 UTC