China’s Defense Ministry said a Chinese naval ship had been sent to warn the US vessel to leave BEIJING: China expressed anger on Tuesday after a US Navy destroyer sailed near islands claimed by China in the disputed South China Sea, saying it was resolutely opposed to an operation that it called a threat to its sovereignty. China’s Defense Ministry said a Chinese naval ship had been sent to warn the US vessel to leave. The Foreign Ministry in Beijing said in a separate statement it strongly urged the United States to stop such “provocative” actions