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PacNet #41 – China comes around?

Chinese Sr. Col. Zhou Bo made headlines at the annual Shangri La Dialogue in Singapore when he announced that Chinese ships have been conducting reconnaissance operations in America’s “Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).” It wasn’t exactly a surprise: buried in its 2013 Report on Chinese Military Power was an admission by the Pentagon that Chinese ships had begun conducting “naval activities” around Guam and Hawaii. What was surprising was the response of Adm. Samuel Locklear, the head of US Pacific Command: “They are [conducting exercises in our EEZ], and we encourage their ability to do that.”