China Welcomes Mattis' South China Sea Diplomacy
China on Monday welcomed U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis' suggestion that diplomacy should be the priority in the South China Sea, and that major U.S. military action was not being considered to contend with China's assertive behaviour there. Mattis, speaking in Tokyo on Saturday, blamed China for "shredding the trust of nations in the region", but also played down any need for U.S. military manoeuvres in the disputed waters of the South China Sea and instead called for open lines of communication. The comments, his most complete on the issue to date, came after analysts had said other remarks made by President Donald Trump's administration had suggested the possibility of U.S. military action, or even a naval blockade.
China to Protect South China Sea Sovereignty
China said on Tuesday it had "irrefutable" sovereignty over disputed islands in the South China Sea after the White House vowed to defend "international territories" in the strategic waterway. White House spokesman Sean Spicer in his comments on Monday signaled a sharp departure from years of cautious U.S. handling of China's assertive pursuit of territorial claims in Asia. "The U.S. is going to make sure that we protect our interests there," Spicer said when asked if Trump agreed with comments by his secretary of state nominee, Rex Tillerson. On Jan. 11, Tillerson said China should not be allowed access to islands it has built in the contested South China Sea.
US Aims to Prevent China from Taking Territory in International Waters
The new U.S. "I think the U.S. is going to make sure that we protect our interests there," White House spokesman Sean Spicer told a news briefing. Spicer was responding to a question as to whether Trump agreed with comments by his Secretary of State nominee, Rex Tillerson, on Jan. 11 that China should not be allowed access to islands it has built in the contested South China Sea. Tillerson's remarks at his Senate confirmation hearing prompted Chinese state media to say the United…
U.S., Norway and Spain to Train Warships Together
According to the Ventura County Star, Naval Base Ventura County threw a party Saturday for visiting warships from Norway, Spain and a newly built U.S. destroyer. Over the next two weeks, the ships and their newly installed weapons systems will be put to the test during a series of at-sea exercises. This is the first time a Norwegian warship has docked at the Port of Hueneme, and the first combined Norwegian Navy, Spanish Navy and U.S. Navy Combat System Ship Qualification Trials. The crews of the Norwegian HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen, Spanish SPS Mendez Nunez and the USS Gridley will use the trials to train and operate the ships’ powerful cache of guided missiles and torpedoes. The Norwegian warship is 400 feet long and has 120 crew members.
