The United States Navy sailed through the South China Sea--because we can:
A U.S. aircraft carrier group cruised through the disputed South China Sea on Saturday in a show of American power in waters that are fast becoming a focal point of Washington's strategic rivalry with Beijing.
Vietnamese security and government officials were flown onto the nuclear-powered USS George Washington ship, underlining the burgeoning military relationship between the former enemies. A small number of journalists were also invited to witness the display of maritime might in the oil-rich waters, which are home to islands disputed between China and the other smaller Asian nations facing the sea.
Given that China has declared the South China Sea to be the city of Sansha, We'll need to make sure our captains have plenty of loose change for parking meters.
Call the Washington 90,000 tons of "it sure looks like the ocean to us." We have to do that a lot.
