People’s Liberation Army

Report to Congress on South China Sea Disputes

The following is the Aug. 21, 2023, Congressional Research Service report, China Primer: South China Sea Disputes.

From the report

Multiple Asian governments assert sovereignty over rocks, reefs, and other geographic features in the heavily trafficked South China Sea (SCS), with the People’s Republic of China (PRC or China) arguably making the most assertive claims. The United States makes no territorial claim in the SCS and takes no position on sovereignty over any of the geographic features in...

https://news.usni.org/2023/08/22/report-to-congress-on-south-china-sea-disputes

Matching China’s Military Expansion Might Not Work as a Regional Deterrent, Panel Says

Amphibious infantry fighting vehicle, soldiers assigned to an army brigade under PLA Eastern Theatre Command stay on alert and prepare for landing during a ferrying and assault wave formation training exercise on May 7, 2022. PLA Photo

Matching Beijing’s military might does not appear to work as a deterrent, some experts said this week, as China’s military expansion continues to increase regional tensions.

The United States needs to work to shape Chinese President Xi Jinping’s thinking that...

https://news.usni.org/2023/08/09/matching-chinas-military-expansion-might-not-work-as-a-regional-deterrent-panel-says

China Protests U.S. South China Sea Freedom of Navigation Operation

Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) conducts a freedom of navigation operation in the South China Sea, March 24. Milius is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. US Navy Photo

A U.S. warship conducted a freedom of navigation operation in the South China Sea, near the Parcel Islands, the day after China claimed it chased away the ship from its territorial waters, U.S. 7th Fleet announced Friday.

USS Milius (...

https://news.usni.org/2023/03/24/china-protests-u-s-south-china-sea-freedom-of-navigation-operation

2nd Chinese Rocket Suffers ‘Uncontrolled’ Break Up Over Nepal Days After Texas Incident

The July 29, 2022 launch of three spy satellites on aboard a Long March 2 rocket. The second stage of this launch broke up over Nepal on Saturday.

Remains of a Chinese rocket that delivered spy satellites burned up over the skies of Nepal on Saturday, just days after a similar incident occurred over Texas last week, USNI News has learned.

The second stage of the Chang Zheng 2D ‘Long March’ rocket reentered the atmosphere on Saturday after more than 200 days in space and burned up over the skies...

https://news.usni.org/2023/03/14/2nd-chinese-rocket-suffers-uncontrolled-break-up-over-nepal-days-after-texas-incident

China Undergoing ‘Build-Up in Every Warfare Area,’ Says ONI Commander

Chinese amphibious landing craft on Nov. 25, 2022. PLA Navy Photo

The danger to Taiwan from China is “something we need to take very seriously” as the island is taking steps to mobilize its entire society to deter a mainland takeover, the commander of the Office of Naval Intelligence said last week.

The Taiwanese are asking themselves “what can we do to make China think twice” before it would attempt a cross-straits invasion, Rear Adm. Michael Studeman said last week. He said Beijing has...

https://news.usni.org/2023/01/16/china-undergoing-build-up-in-every-warfare-area-says-oni-commander

USS Chancellorsville Performs South China Sea FONOP, Draws Chinese Protests

Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG-62) conducts routine underway operations in the South China Sea, Nov. 29, 2022. US Navy Photo

The Tuesday passage of a U.S. guided missile cruiser past a disputed island chain in the South China Sea has drawn protests from Beijing and claims that the People’s Liberation Army expelled the ship from Chinese territorial waters.

According to U.S. 7th Fleet, USS Chancellorsville (CG-62) sailed past the Spratly Island chain on Tuesday as...

https://news.usni.org/2022/11/29/uss-chancellorsville-performs-south-china-sea-fonop-draws-chinese-protests

SECDEF Austin, Chinese Defense Minister Meet, Agree to Keep Lines of Communication Open

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III meets with General Wei Fenghe, Minister of National Defense of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), on the margins of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations Defense Ministers Meeting-Plus in Siem Reap, Cambodia, Nov. 22, 2022. DoD Photo

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin emphasized the need to keep open lines of communication and responsibly manage competition in his meeting this week with China’s Minister of National Defense Gen. Wei Fenghe.

Austin met...

https://news.usni.org/2022/11/24/secdef-austin-chinese-defense-minister-meet-agree-to-keep-lines-of-communication-open

Navy Tests Reloading Missiles on Destroyer in San Diego Bay, Open Ocean Tests Tougher Task

Sailors aboard Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG-111) guide training ordnance into the ship’s forward vertical launch system (VLS) cells during a proof-of-concept test in San Diego, Oct. 4, 2022. US Navy Photo

A pairing of a guided-missile destroyer and a supply ship in San Diego Bay last week was the Navy’s latest test to learn how to resupply its warships with missiles during a high-end conflict.

The Military Sealift Command-sponsored reloading test matched USS Sprua...

https://news.usni.org/2022/10/18/navy-tests-reloading-missiles-on-destroyer-in-san-diego-bay-open-ocean-tests-tougher-task

U.S. Destroyer Performs South China Sea FONOP; China Says it Expelled Warship

USS Benfold (DDG-65) sailing past the Paracel Islands on July 13, 2022. PLA Photo

A U.S. guided-missile destroyer passed near a South China Sea island chain claimed by China as part of a Freedom of Navigation operation and drew complaints from Beijing.

USS Benfold (DDG-65) sailed near the Paracel Islands early Wednesday local time in a FONOP and was monitored by the People’s Liberation Army Navy frigate Xianning (500), according to the Chinese Ministry of Defense.

“This freedom of navigation...

https://news.usni.org/2022/07/13/u-s-destroyer-performs-south-china-sea-fonop-china-says-it-expelled-warship

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