A US aircraft carrier strike group has begun patrols in the South China Sea amid growing tension with China over control of the disputed waterway and concerns it could become a flash point under the new US administration. China's foreign ministry on Wednesday warned the United State against challenging its sovereignty in the South China Sea. The US Navy said the strike force, including Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, began routine operations in the South China Sea on Saturday. The announcement was posted on the Vinson's Facebook page.

US carrier strike force patrols South China Sea. (2017, February 20). Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A10.