A US naval ship conducted a patrol Saturday around a disputed island in the South China Sea, in the second such maneuver in recent months.

The island is one of many in the area subject to competing claims, in a saga that has raised tensions between China and its neighbors.

The United States also has an interest in the region, not only because of its complex relationship with China, but also because the waters represent a key trade route for global shipping.

Read more: http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2016/0130/US-warship-challenges-China.-What-s-the-South-China-Sea-strategy