The Pentagon said on Tuesday the missile launch was "disturbing" and contrary to Chinese pledges that it would not militarize the strategic waterway.

China's foreign ministry said a U.S. navy destroyer that carried out a "freedom of navigation operation" on Thursday in the South China Sea had violated international and Chinese law and seriously harmed Beijing's sovereignty and security.

Taiwan said in a statement it had "grasped that Communist China had deployed" missiles on Woody Island in the Paracel chain. The Philippines said the development increased regional tensions.