U.S. Ship Passes Near Chinese Artificial Island
ROMANS: Breaking overnight, a U.S. warship passes within 12 nautical miles of an artificial island built by China in the South China Sea. The move in effect is a U.S. challenge to Chinese territorial claims and the Chinese are very unhappy about it and making sure the United States knows. For the latest, I want bring in CNN's Will Ripley live at a U.S. naval base in Japan. And Will, I mean, these which described as sort of unsinkable aircraft carriers, the Chinese have built basically a military installation out of nothing, and the U.S. wants the world to know this is navigable waters here. These are international waters, these are trade routes. China flexing its muscle. The United States flexing back.</s>WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I mean, China essentially has raised a lot of concern in this region because they built up over these coral reefs. These airstrips, docking ports, the potential to really militarized this area where trillions of dollars of trade come through. It's a lifeline for the United States' number one ally, Japan. And here at this naval base. This is actually the home base for the warship that was sent out to conduct what's known as a Freedom of Navigation Patrol. Something that we may be hearing more of in the coming weeks as the United States military pledges to continue sending their destroyers, sending their ships, close to these manmade islands in the South China Sea 600 miles from mainland Chinese shores. They want to send a message to the Chinese government that they don't feel it's OK for China to continue to assert itself further and further from its borders. China very upset about this. Their Foreign Ministry spokesperson saying that these actions by the United States could actually force China to speed up the development of their infrastructure in these areas. And keep in mind, this isn't the only flashpoint. China and Japan have been engaged in a territorial dispute in the East China Sea for quite some time now as well. All of it boils down to the geopolitical instability in the region and what role the Chinese military will play as the United States tried to continue to maintain the status quo. But you have China implying that as a regional super power, a super power in this part of the world, they want to play a serious role as well. They say that if the United States continues these activities, which they say are illegal, that there could be consequences. We'll have to see how it all develops -- Christine.</s>ROMANS: The U.S., a very strong ally of Japan. The U.S. a very large trading partner with China. That's why this is all so very important. Thank you so much for that, Will Ripley.</s>BERMAN: All right. CNN on the frontlines inside Syria, in the fight against ISIS. We're live right after the break.