Chinese officials threatened “consequences” for American forces after a U.S. warship sailed near disputed islands in the South China Sea to commemorate an international ruling condemning Beijing’s attempt to seize the waterways.

“By conducting this operation, the United States demonstrated that these waters are beyond what China can lawfully claim as its territorial sea,” the U.S. Navy said after the USS Benfold, a guided-missile destroyer, sailed unannounced near the Paracel Islands.