Speculation had simmered for weeks that the United States intended to conduct naval patrols in the South China Sea to challenge Beijing's territorial claims there. Pentagon leaders seemed especially eager to defy China's position that building "reclaimed" or artificial reefs or islands also created rights to new territorial waters surrounding those creations. The widespread speculation was confirmed on October 27, when the Navy sent the guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen on a "freedom of navigation" patrol within 12-miles of man-made islands.