The destroyer John S. McCain first moved across the waters near Vietnam's Hoang Sa archipelago since Biden took office.

"USS John S. McCain exercises freedom of navigation in the area near the Paracel Islands, in accordance with international law," the US Navy released a statement today.

This Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer a day earlier also conducted "customary movements across the Taiwan Strait under international law", according to the US Navy's 7th Fleet announcement.

The United States recently sent ships to the South China Sea to conduct more frequent free-of-navigation patrols, aimed at challenging China's unreasonable claims in the region.

The US Pacific Fleet issued a statement in December 2020 stating that "extensive and illegal maritime claims in the South China Sea pose a serious threat to freedom of the sea, including freedom from

Hoang Sa archipelago was occupied by China in 1974. This country established the so-called "Tam Sa city", based on Phu Lam island since July 2012 to acquire islands in the Sea.

Vietnam has repeatedly condemned China's illegal activities in the South China Sea.