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Naval commander stresses no change in U. S. policy on South China Sea

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Adm. Scott Swift spoke of continuity, despite uncertainty about the Trump administration’s response to China’s militarization of the disputed waters.
A senior U. S. naval commander insisted Thursday that American policy on the South China Sea has not shifted, despite uncertainty about President Trump ’s response to Chinese militarization of the disputed waters.
“The policy is consistent between the two administrations, ” said Adm. Scott Swift, who leads U. S. naval forces in the Pacific. “I don’ t think anybody is expecting this huge reversal.”
Swift spoke aboard the guided-missile destroyer Sterett during its scheduled stop in Zhanjiang, a seaside steel town on China’s far southern tip. The ship docked amid People’s Liberation Army ships at a Chinese naval base. The port city is the naval headquarters responsible for operations in the South China Sea.
The commander stressed continuity amid concerns Trump is looking the other way on China’s island-building in favor of its help thwarting North Korea’s nuclear ambitions.
Allies received some reassurance last month when a U. S. warship sailed near artificial islands China claims, the first test of Beijing’s assertiveness since Trump took office. (Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang accused the U. S. of trespassing near islands where China has “indisputable sovereignty.”)
Swift stressed America’s “consistent presence” in the region, but also played down the focus on these freedom of navigation operations, or FONOPS.
“The amount of FONOPS we do is infinitesimal compared to our everyday exchanges, ” he said. “I don’ t see how those operations in the South China Sea should be viewed from a Navy perspective as any more consequential than anywhere else.”
Swift noted U. S. “ship days” in the South China Sea would probably reach 900 this year, up from about 700 annually. But he attributed it to carrier strike groups temporarily in the Pacific and cautioned against assuming a regular increase.

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