USS Dewey (DDG-105) transits the South China Sea on May 6, 2017. US Navy Photo
This post has been updated with additional information on the Dewey freedom of navigation operation.
A U.S. destroyer sailed within six nautical miles of a Chinese artificial island on Wednesday in the strongest challenge of hotly debated Chinese claims in the South China Sea, USNI News has learned. Read More
The Navy may embrace some lessons learned from the Littoral Combat Ship program as it shifts towards a new mentality of rapidly fielding capabilities, as outlined in a new Navy white paper, the chief of naval operations said. Read More
North Korean Hwasong 12 missile test. KCNA Photo
A Sunday North Korean missile test shows Pyongyang may be further along in developing a missile capable of hitting U.S. territory with a nuclear weapon than previously thought. Read More
The following is the April 24, 2017 Congressional Research Service report, U.S.-China Trade Issues. Read More
Chinese DF-26 missiles on display during a military parade in Tiananmen Square. Photo via globalsecurity.org
The commander of U.S. Pacific Command said the United States may want to renegotiate the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with Russia because the restrictions on conventional land-based weapons are hindering the U.S. military’s ability to keep up with China. Read More
Soldiers of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army 1st Amphibious Mechanized Infantry Division in 2011. DoD Photo
While four national security experts were cautiously optimistic about the future of Chinese-American relations, the core problem between the two powers is Beijing’s continuing military expansion is threatening the United States’ ability to operate in the Pacific. Read More
China’s Type-001A Carrier following its launching ceremony on April 26, 2017. Ministry of National Defense Photo
This post has been updated with additional information from naval analysyts.
China has launched its first domestically built aircraft carrier in a ceremony at a northern Chinese shipyard on Wednesday. Read More
Russian trade and industry minister Denis Manturov aims a weapon during Idex 2015 in Abu Dhabi. Reuters Photo
While Russia remains a major international arms exporter, the Kremlin has seen its sales have fallen flat in recent years largely because its largest markets — China and India — have built up their own defense industries and can do the work themselves at a lower cost. Read More
USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) transits the South China Sea on April 8, 2017. US Navy Photo
There was no specific reason U.S. Pacific Command elected to rearrange the schedule of the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group and send it toward the Korean peninsula, Secretary of Defense James Mattis told reporters on Tuesday. Read More
Adm. Kurt W. Tidd, commander, U.S. Southern Command, speaks to the crew of amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) on Oct. 15, 2016. US Navy Photo
Russia, China and Iran are increasing interest in Central and South America, especially Moscow’s renewed focus on Nicaragua, the head of U.S. Southern Command told the Senate. Read More
