China must state military’s intentions in disputed seas – US 7th Fleet commander

Aboard USS Blue Ridge, Manila — To make the situation in the South China Sea more stable and less uncertain, it would be good for China to state what their intentions are regarding its extensive land reclamation work and deployment of air defense and surface-to-air missile systems in disputed areas in the region, a top United States Navy (USN) official said yesterday. “That’s probably a good question for them (China),” US 7th Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Joseph P. Aucoin told a select group of reporters in an interview yesterday while touring USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19), the lead ship of the two Blue Ridge-class command ships of the US Navy and command ship of the US 7th Fleet. The USS Blue Ridge docked in Manila Bay last Friday as part of a routine visit. “I’ve read the press report about some of the things being put in the island, that adds [...]