China has asked the United States to withdraw out of the South China Sea even as the warship USS Lassen, a guided-missile destroyer, plows the sea near the disputed Spratly archipelago. The ship is on a mission to cruise within 12 nautical miles (22.2km.) of the Spratlys' Mischief and Subi reefs, obviously aimed at deterring China from further building man-made islands in the territory which is also claimed by Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan, and the Philippines. Both China and her aforesaid rivals claim sovereignty which has strategic importance, since an estimated $5 trillion worth of world trade passes through it every year.

US Navy presence meant to stop China. (2015, October 29). Panay News, p. 10.