China has condemned the U.S. for sailing a Navy warship within 12 miles of one of the country's man-made islands in the South China Sea.

USA Today reports the USS Lassen, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, ventured into disputed waters near the new islands at the Subi and Mischief reefs, an act that Beijing considered to be a deliberate provocation.

"The actions of the U.S. warship have threatened China's sovereignty and security interests, jeopardized the safety of personnel and facilities on the reefs, and damaged regional peace and stability," China's Foreign Ministry said in an online statement.

While China did not offer any resistance, Beijing said it tracked and warned the vessel.

A U.S. defense official told CNN that the operation was "routine" and said it was not intended to target China.

"We will fly, sail and operate anywhere in the world that international law allows," the official said.

The South China Sea is the subject of dispute among several countries, including China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines. China has declared sovereignty over the entire territory, a claim the U.S. is not willing to acknowledge.

In the past, U.S. officials have hinted their intention to sail into the waters to display "freedom of navigation."

China issued a clear warning to the United States.

"If any country thinks that, through some gimmicks, they will be able to interfere with or even prevent China from engaging in reasonable, legitimate and legal activities in its own territories, I want to suggest those countries give up such fantasy," said Lu Kang, spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry.

"In fact, if relevant parties insist on creating tensions in the region and making trouble out of nothing, it may force China to draw the conclusion that we need to strengthen and hasten the buildup of our relevant capabilities," he continued. "I advise the U.S. not to create such a self-fulfilling prophecy."

Many analysts believe the U.S. has no intention of backing down however.

"The South China Sea has already become a symbolic U.S.-China sparring ground, raising the temperature for what should have been a routine operation conducted months ago," said Euan Graham, director of the International Security Program at the Lowy Institute for International Policy in Australia. "The operation is unlikely to end here and will probably usher in a sustained U.S. naval and air presence in the weeks ahead."