US destroyers have sailed close to Chinese-held reefs and islands in the disputed South China Sea in recent weeks, US naval officials said on Thursday, patrols likely to fuel tensions ahead of an international court's ruling on Beijing's sweeping maritime claims. The Destroyers Stethem, Spruance and Momsen have been patrolling near Chinese-held reefs in the Spratlys archipelago and Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, which is near the Philippines, the officials said. The patrols were first reported by the Washington-based Navy Times newspaper.

Torres, E. (2016, July 8). US destroyers sail close to Sino-held reefs. Philippine Daily Inquirer, pp. A1, A14.