Freedom of Navigation

When asked about the missile deployment, Secretary of State John Kerry said
last week that there is evidence every day that there has been an increase
of militarization of one kind or another. While the U.S. takes no sides on the
various claims, it has taken actions it says are aimed at ensuring the
freedom of navigation. More than $5 trillion of goods transit the South China
Sea each year. China Foreign Minister Wang Yi will be in the U.S. Tuesday to
Thursday for talks at the invitation of Kerry.
China says U.S. freedom-of-navigation operations where it sails military
vessels through territorial zones claimed by China and others amount to
militarization of the region and add to tensions. China dismissed as "hype"
media reports about the deployment of HQ-9 missiles on Woody island,
where its military has had a presence for years.