Tag Archives: PACOM

U.S. Destroyer Made an ‘Innocent Passage’ Near Chinese South China Sea Artificial Island in Recent Mission

U.S. Destroyer Made an ‘Innocent Passage’ Near Chinese South China Sea Artificial Island in Recent Mission

USS Lassen (DDG 82) is underway in 2013. US Navy Photo

USS Lassen (DDG-82) underway in 2013. US Navy Photo

Last week’s South China Sea freedom of navigation mission — in which a U.S. guided missile destroyer came within 12 nautical miles of a Chinese facility on an artificial island on Subi Reef — was conducted as an “innocent passage,” a defense official with knowledge of the operation confirmed to USNI News on Monday morning. Read More

U.S., Chinese Navy Leaders Discuss U.S. Freedom of Navigation, South China Sea Operations

U.S., Chinese Navy Leaders Discuss U.S. Freedom of Navigation, South China Sea Operations

Adm. John Richardson attends the 10th Regional Seapower Symposium (RSS) for the Navies of the Mediterranean and Black Sea Countries in Venice, Italy on Oct, 22 2015. US Navy Photo

Adm. John Richardson attends the 10th Regional Seapower Symposium (RSS) for the Navies of the Mediterranean and Black Sea Countries in Venice, Italy on Oct, 22 2015. US Navy Photo

The military leaders of the U.S. and Chinese navies held a video teleconference on Thursday to discuss South China Sea naval and freedom of navigation operations that have inflamed the Chinese government, a Navy official told USNI News. Read More

U.S. Destroyer Comes Within 12 Nautical Miles of Chinese South China Sea Artificial Island, Beijing Threatens Response

U.S. Destroyer Comes Within 12 Nautical Miles of Chinese South China Sea Artificial Island, Beijing Threatens Response

USS Lassen (DDG-82) underway in the Philippine Sea in 2015. US Navy Photo

USS Lassen (DDG-82) underway in the Philippine Sea in 2015. US Navy Photo

After months of deliberation, the U.S. has sent a guided missile destroyer within 12 nautical miles of a Chinese artificial island in the South China Sea in a move that practically rejects Chinese claims to the reclaimed reefs and has inflamed Beijing. Read More

CNO Richardson: Freedom of Navigation Missions in South China Sea Not Meant to Provoke

CNO Richardson: Freedom of Navigation Missions in South China Sea Not Meant to Provoke

Chief Of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. John Richardson, address Sailors during an all-hands call in the hangar bay of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) on Oct. 15, 2015. US Navy Photo

Chief Of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. John Richardson, address Sailors during an all-hands call in the hangar bay of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) on Oct. 15, 2015. US Navy Photo

The new U.S. Chief of Naval Operations said potential U.S. Navy freedom of navigation missions in the South China Sea are not meant to provoke nations but rather “part of exercising international rights in international waters.” Read More

China: Military Facilities on South China Sea Artificial Islands are ‘For Defense Purposes Only’

China: Military Facilities on South China Sea Artificial Islands are ‘For Defense Purposes Only’

Ships and submarines from the Republic of Singapore navy and U.S. Navy gather in formation during the underway phase of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Singapore 2015 on July 21, 2015. US Navy Photo

Ships and submarines from the Republic of Singapore navy and U.S. Navy gather in formation during the underway phase of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Singapore 2015 on July 21, 2015. US Navy Photo

Amidst U.S. and Australian concerns of Chinese military expansion in the South China Sea, officials with China’s foreign ministry are claiming military facilities on a series of artificial islands are “for defense purposes only” in reaction to “high-profile display[s] of military strength and frequent and large-scale military drills by certain countries and their allies in the South China Sea,” according to a Wednesday press briefing. Read More