The South China Morning Post (August 28) reported that the US Navy  Burke-class guided missile destroyer, Wayne E. Meye, with the DDG-108 sailed into the South China Sea, Yongshu Reef and Meiji breaking the 12-mile range of China's South Island Reef on August 28. Li Huamin, spokesman for the PLA Southern Theater Command said on August 29 that the US Navy destroyer had arbitrarily entered the waters adjacent to the South Island Reef in China without the permission of the Chinese government. The air and sea forces of the PLA Southern Theater Command carried out follow-up surveillance, verification and identification of the entire US ship in accordance with the law, and warned them to leave. According to Reuters (August 28), the US military said that the US Navy Burke-class guided missile destroyer, Wayne E. Meye, with the DDG-108, sailed into the South China Sea, Yongshu Reef and Meiji. The reef is within 12 nautical miles. The US military also claimed that the purpose of the move was for "challenging excessive territorial claims and protecting waterways in accordance with international law."