Navy Times:
BEIJING — A look at recent developments in the South China Sea, where China is pitted against smaller neighbors in multiple disputes over islands, coral reefs and lagoons in waters crucial for global commerce and rich in fish and potential oil and gas reserves:
U.S. and British navy ships conducted joint maneuvers in the South China this month in what they called a sign of their shared emphasis on regional peace and stability. The Arleigh-Burke guided-missile destroyer McCampbell and the Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigate Argyll conducted operations together in the South China Sea from Jan. 11-16, the U.S. Pacific Fleet said in a news release.
The exercises included communication drills, division tactics, and “a personnel exchange designed to address common maritime security priorities, enhance interoperability, and develop relationships that will benefit both navies for many years to come,” the news release said.
