Free Republic

Two developments in the past few weeks suggest that America’s China policy is on a cusp.The more publicly discussed event involves the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Dewey, which conducted a freedom of navigation operation near Mischief Reef in the Spratlys island group.This is the first freedom of navigation action conducted by the Trump administration. It is the first true freedom of navigation conducted since at least 2012.By contrast, the Obama administration had undertaken a handful of “innocent passage” activities in the South China Sea, which failed to demonstrate the critical issues at stake.The actions carried out in the previous administration...

The Aegis weapon system, installed on board the US and Spanish naval warships, has successfully exhibited its combat capabilities during a recent trial. The Combat System Ship Qualification Trials were conducted in the waters near Pt. Mugu, California last week. US Navy’s recently commissioned guided missile destroyer USS Dewey (DDG 105) along with USS Wayne E Meyer (DDG 108) took part in the trial. Spanish Navy’s Alvaro de Bazan (F-101) frigate was also a part of the exercise. The Aegis integrated naval weapon system, fitted on the ships, was evaluated for combat-readiness through comprehensive surface, subsurface and anti-air warfare exercises,...

The Navy commissioned the newest guided-missile destroyer, the USS Dewey, to its fleet March 6 at a ceremony steeped in naval symbolism and tradition. At the Naval Weapons Station here, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, delivered remarks to a crowd of thousands before the admiral's wife Deborah Mullen, the ship's sponsor, called the order that brought the $1 billion warship to life. "You're getting a true gem: a ship as well built and well-tested as they come and manned by performance-proven, highly motivated sailors. May you deploy Dewey to the tip of the spear."...