Now for a look at stories making headlines around the world….<br />China has lashed out at the U.S. after two U.S. warships sailed near contested islands in the South China Sea. <br />For more on this and other international news we turn to our Ro Aram…<br />Aram… another furious response from Beijing over the U.S. Navy's so-called Freedom of Navigation exercise…<br /><br /> That's right Mark… this issue has been an ongoing sticking point between the two countries….<br /> The Higgins - a guided-missile destroyer - and the Antietam - a guided-missile cruiser reportedly sailed 12 nautical miles of the Paracel islands on Sunday.<br />They are a group of islands and reefs in the northern part of the disputed waters of the South China Sea and are contested by China and its neighbors. <br />This forced China to send its own warships to the area to warn the American vessels to leave.<br />Other details about the encounter were not immediately known. <br />Beijing's defense ministry called the U.S. Navy's move a provocation and accused them of violating China's sovereignty. <br />In a separate statement, China's foreign ministry urged Washington to stop such actions. <br /> The U.S. did not immediately respond to Sunday's statements, but it has continuously defended its operations in the disputed waters.<br />Washington has insisted that its Navy conducts regular freedom of navigation operations around the world, including in areas claimed by allies, and that they are separate from political considerations. <br />The latest operation comes at a sensitive time in U.S. and China relations, especially when they are both working on avoiding a potential trade war between them. <br />Ties have also been strained due to President Trump's cancellation of a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. <br />
