China has slammed the United States for sailing a warship through the South China Sea, calling it a violation of its sovereignty and security. In a statement, the Chinese military called the move illegal and ironclad evidence of Washington’s hegemony and militarization of the strategic waters. The US dismissed the accusations by calling them false and excessive. The US guided missile destroyer, USS Benfold, sailed near the Spratly Islands on Wednesday; just a few days after China imposed new identification rules that apply to the disputed body of water. China claims the South China Sea in its entirety. However, some of its neighbors have also overlapping claims and the US sides with Beijing’s rivals in the dispute.