"The fact is that the Department of Defense regularly conducts freedom of navigation operations around the world. In 2014, the Department of Defense challenged the excessive maritime claims of 18 different nations," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters at his daily news briefing.
"These are nations as diverse as Iran, around the Strait of Hormuz. And other nations with them we have much warmer relations, nations like Nicaragua, India and Brazil," Earnest said in response to a question.
According to Pentagon, in a one year period between October 1, 2013 and September 30, 2014, the United States challenged multiple times India's "excessive maritime claims" that authorisation is required for any foreign military movement in its exclusive economic zone.
Other countries whose maritime territorial claims were challenged during this period included Argentina, Brazil, China, Ecuador, Indonesia, Iran, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Nicaragua, Oman, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Venezuela and Vietnam.
"I think the (US) President delivered a pretty clear and resounding message in the rose garden when he was standing next to (Chinese) President Xi at the end of last month in which he declared, not for the first time, the United States will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere in the world that international law allows," Earnest said.