The Navy is preparing to send a ship inside the 12-mile territorial limit China claims for its man-made island chain in the South China Sea, according to military officials.
The action could take place within days but awaits final approval from the Obama administration, the officials told Navy Times.
Plans to send a warship through the contested space in the vicinity of the Spratly Islands have been rumored since May, but three Pentagon officials who spoke to Navy Times on background to discuss future operations say Navy officials believe approval of the mission is imminent.
If approved, it would be the first time since 2012 that the Navy has directly challenged China’s claims to the islands’ territorial limits.
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