U.S. Expects More Sea Encounters With China, Navy Commander Says

We'll Meet More Often, U.S. Navy Captain Says to China

June 22, 2015 — 8:40 PM EDT

The U.S. expects more encounters at sea with Chinese navy vessels, according to the captain of a U.S. coastal combat ship that has patrolled the disputed South China Sea and met a Chinese ship last month.

The countries have agreed codes to help understand each other and talk via radio, said Commander Rich Jarrett, commanding officer of the USS Fort Worth. The language used is very similar to that used 20 years ago with the Soviet Union, the U.S.’ former Cold War foe, he said.

The Fort Worth deployed the codes when it unexpectedly met a Chinese vessel near the disputed Spratly islands during a May patrol of the South China Sea. It was the first time a U.S. littoral combat ship operated in waters around the islands, which are claimed by countries including China, the Philippines Vietnam and Malaysia.

“I expect that we may have a similar encounter because we’re operating in this part of the world,” Jarrett said in an interview Monday on the ship moored on the Philippines’ Palawan island. “But quite honestly I’m not sure that I’m going to do anything particularly different than what I’ve done in previous deployments.”

Admiral Michelle Howard, the vice chief of naval operations, declined last month to say whether the Fort Worth sailed within 12 nautical miles of the Spratlys during its patrol, or give further details of the encounter. Stars and Stripes reported the ship was followed closely by a Chinese frigate.

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http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-06-23/u-s-expects-more-sea-encounters-with-china-navy-commander-says