The U.S. Navy will still challenge claims by nations like China to exclusive access in the South China Sea, Pacific Fleet Commander Scott Swift said, insisting a hiatus in "freedom of navigation" patrols doesn't mean the disputed waterway is a lower priority for the Trump presidency.
"We just went through a change in administration," Adm. Swift said Monday at a briefing in Singapore. "I am not surprised that process has continued in a dialogue as the new administration gets its feet on the ground and determines where would be appropriate to take advantage of these opportunities and where we may want to wait."
"We just present the opportunities when we have a ship in the area and there is an area of interest," he said, adding that the Navy continues to propose such operations. There's been "no change in policy" toward the region under Donald Trump, he said.