The US will continue to operate in the South China Sea (SCS) to ensure prosperity for all nations in the region, the United States Indo-Pacific Command said. Admiral John Aquilino, commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, noted during a presentation at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado on Thursday that many concerns in the region centered on the activities of China, which “quite often don’t match up with the words that come out of Beijing.” He said China’s claims on the SCS “interfere with the well-being and prosperity of all nations in the region.”

Lee-Brago, P. (2021, August 9). US vows continued presence in South China Sea. The Philippine Star, p. 2.