U.S. to base Coast Guard cutters in western Pacific in response to China

[rangerrebew]

China
October 23, 20206:25 PMUpdated 
U.S. to base Coast Guard cutters in western Pacific in response to China

By David Brunnstrom
 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. national security adviser said on Friday the U.S Coast Guard was basing Enhanced Response Cutters in the western Pacific for maritime security missions, citing illegal fishing and harassment of vessels by China.

In a statement, Robert O’Brien also said the Coast Guard planned to evaluate next fiscal year the feasibility of basing Fast Response Cutters in American Samoa in the South Pacific.

The statement described the United States as a Pacific power and added that China’s “illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, and harassment of vessels operating in the exclusive economic zones of other countries in the Indo-Pacific threatens our sovereignty, as well as the sovereignty of our Pacific neighbors and endangers regional stability.”

https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN2782VY