China, through its ongoing One Belt/One Road Initiative, is increasingly challenging the United States’ ability “to move freely in a business environment and across the oceans,” the retired vice admiral heading one of the nation’s top trade groups said Monday. Speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies on Monday, retired Vice Adm. Andy Brown warned, “over time, our ability [to conduct maritime business in U.S.-flagged ships] has eroded immensely.” To illustrate the U.S. maritime decline, Brown said the American merchant marine has slipped from 101 ships when he was on active duty to 81 today. And the makeup … Continue reading Panel: Chinese Investments to Boost Trade Come as U.S. Commercial Shipping in Decline