Defense Secretary James Mattis has asserted that the US' freedom of navigation exercise in the South China Sea which evoked strong protests from China would not be paused as it was being carried out as part of a strategy.
“This (Freedom of Navigation exercise) is our policy. We will continue this,” Mattis told lawmakers during a Congressional hearing yesterday.
“Could it change if circumstances changeIJ Of course, but right now Secretary (of State, Rex) Tillerson and I give him the military factors -- and we're in league together on this, so I don't think anything is going to change,” he said in response to a question.