US admiral flags Chinese navy's Pacific movements

The commander of US military forces in the Pacific said China is stepping up its territorial claims in the region’s waters, the Financial Times reported. Admiral Robert Willard said: "There has been an assertiveness that has been growing over time, particularly in the South China Sea and in the East China Sea." These claims to islands and waters have been causing concerns about Chinese military modernization and expansion that may be a factor in a growing Southeast Asian arms race. Japan had earlier complained about the behavior of a Chinese coastguard vessel in international waters. Willard, who was in Beijing during the recent US-China bilateral talks, contrasted the "advanced, sophisticated and mature [political] dialogue" between the US and China with the "very immature military-to-military relationship."