USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG-54) in 2012. US Navy Photo
Chinese officials issued several condemnations of the latest U.S. freedom of navigation operation in the South China Sea in which an American guided missile destroyer came within 12 nautical miles of Chinese administered Triton Island in the Paracel Island chain. Read More
USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) transits the East China Sea in 2013. US Navy Photo
An American guided missile destroyer conducted a freedom of navigation operation within 12 nautical miles of a disputed island claimed by China in the South China Sea Paracel island chain, Pentagon officials confirmed to USNI News on Saturday morning. Read More
Adm. Harry B. Harris, commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet in 2014. US Navy Photo
Calling freedom of navigation “a matter of fundamental principle” to the United States, the top military officer in the Pacific said that more operations in the South China Sea not only will continue but will become more complex. Read More
Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.)
After two months, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter provided a clear explanation of an U.S. Oct. 27 South China Sea freedom of navigation operation (FON op) that both enraged China and left domestic maritime observers with lingering questions on American intentions. Read More
The following is the Dec. 22, 2015 letter from Secretary of Defense Ash Carter to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) outlining the U.S. Oct., 27 2015 freedom of navigation operation in the South China Sea. Read More
USNI News polled its writers, naval analysts and service members on what they consider the most important military and maritime stories in 2015. Read More
Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.)
The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee has asked Secretary of Defense Ash Carter for more details on last month’s U.S. freedom of navigation (FON) mission in the South China Sea, according to a Monday letter obtained by USNI News. Read More
The following is a Nov. 9, 2015 letter from Senate Armed Services Committee chair Sen. John McCain to Secretary of Defense Ash Carter asking for more information on the U.S. Oct. 27 freedom of navigation mission in the South China Sea. Read More
USS Lassen (DDG-82). US Navy Photo
Last week the United States sent a guided missile destroyer past a Chinese artificial island to challenge questionable claims in the South China Sea, but confusion still reigns from Washington, D.C., to the Western Pacific as to exactly what message was supposed to be transmitted. Read More
USS Lassen (DDG-82) is underway in the Philippine Sea in 2013. US Navy Photo
Much has been made about the recent transit of the USS Lassen (DDG-82) within 12 nautical miles of Subi Reef in the South China Sea. To review, that is because China has built an artificial island on top of Subi Reef, claims it as sovereign territory, and claims territorial rights to the seas around the reef. Read More
