Paracel Islands

Vietnam is one of several countries to clash with China in the disputed South China Sea, particularly on two archipelagos, the Spratlys and the Paracel Islands.

The Navy’s Seventh Fleet said the Hopper “asserted navigational rights and freedoms in the South China Sea near the Paracel Islands, consistent with international law.”

Navy said on Sunday that the Hopper had "asserted navigational rights in the South China Sea near the Paracel Islands, consistent with international law".

China claimed the USS Ralph Johnson took a sharp turn and accelerated, crossing the bow of the Chinese ship near the disputed Paracel Islands, which China calls Xisha.

Just last week, state media reported Vietnamese fishermen's claims that a Chinese coastguard ship had fired a water cannon at their boat near the contested Paracel Islands.