Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Hong Lei during a Sept. 18, 2015 press conference. Chinese MoFA Photo
PENTAGON — Chinese officials again affirmed territorial sovereignty for a series of newly created artificial islands in the South China Sea and warned the U.S. against taking “risky and provocative action” by attempting to come within 12 nautical miles of the islands, according to a Friday press statement from Beijing. Read More
USS Fort Worth (LCS-3) conducts patrols in international waters of the South China Sea near the Spratly Islands on May 11, 2015. US Navy Photo
The Obama administration is considering conducting more freedom of navigation missions in the South China Sea as a partial counter to China’s rapid artificial island expansion in the region, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs told a Senate panel on Thursday. Read More
Destruction in Katmandu on April 26, 2015. Photo by Krish Dulal
As terrible as the loss of life and damage has been since the April 25, Gorkha earthquake in Nepal, an American and Nepalese training exercise a week before the quake predicted an even worse result, U.S. officials involved with the relief effort told USNI News on Wednesday. Read More
U.S. and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) honor guard perform a 21-gun salute during a memorial service in Zamboanga City, Philippines in 2010. US Navy Photo
This post has been updated to include additional comments from U.S. Special Operations Command, Pacific.
The U.S. special operations mission to help the Philippine military to fight Islamic militants is coming to a close, U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) officials told USNI News on Thursday. Read More
Vice Adm. Scott Swift, then commander of U.S. 7th Fleet, aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington in 2012. US Navy Photo
The Pentagon has nominated the current director of navy staff to take charge of the U.S. Pacific Fleet (PACFLT), according to a Thursday announcement from the Department of Defense. Read More
Adm. Harry B. Harris, commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet at the 2014 WEST conference in San Diego, Calif. on Feb. 11, 2014. US Navy photo
The current commander of U.S. naval forces in the Pacific has been tapped to lead all U.S. forces in the region, the Pentagon announced on Monday afternoon. Read More
Adm. Samuel J. Locklear, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, greets Chief of the General Staff of the People’s Republic of China Gen. Fang Fenghui aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) on May 13, 2014. US Navy Photo
The high profile story of a Chinese surveillance ship off the cost of Hawaii could have a positive aspect for U.S. operations in the Pacific, the head of U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) said in a Tuesday afternoon briefing with reporters at the Pentagon. Read More
USS Philippine Sea (CG 58), left, and the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) transit the Strait of Gibraltar. US Navy Photo
In a protracted discussion about how many aircraft carriers the United States needs, the top commander in the Pacific said the Navy already can’t meet the demands that Central and Pacific Commands are putting upon it with the 11 carriers now in the fleet. Read More
Adm. Samuel J. Locklear III, commander of US Pacific Command in 2012. US Navy Photo
The head of U.S. Pacific Command said the U.S. would oppose the use of force in resolving disputes over territory in the South China Sea, according to a Wednesday report from the Associated Press. Read More
U.S. Pacific Command contractor, Benjamin Pierce Bishop, 59, was charged in federal court in Hawaii on Friday on charges of providing sensitive national security information to a Chinese national with whom he was romantically entangled. Read More
