{"id":22025,"date":"2018-11-02T20:46:07","date_gmt":"2018-11-02T20:46:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2018\/11\/02\/top-us-navy-officer-urges-china-to-follow-maritime-code-of-conduct\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T21:59:07","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T21:59:07","slug":"top-us-navy-officer-urges-china-to-follow-maritime-code-of-conduct","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/naval\/2018\/11\/02\/top-us-navy-officer-urges-china-to-follow-maritime-code-of-conduct\/","title":{"rendered":"Top US Navy officer tells China to behave at sea"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

MELBOURNE, Australia \u2014 The U.S. Navy\u2019s chief of naval operations<\/a> has called on China to return to a previously agreed-upon code of conduct for at-sea encounters between the ships of their respective navies, stressing the need to avoid miscalculations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During a Nov. 1 teleconference with reporters based in the Asia-Pacific region, Adm. John Richardson said he wants the People\u2019s Liberation Army Navy to \u201creturn to a consistent adherence to the agreed-to code that would again minimize the chance for a miscalculation that could possibly lead to a local incident and potential escalation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The CNO cited a case in early October when the U.S. Navy\u2019s guided-missile destroyer Decatur reported that a Chinese Type 052C destroyer came within 45 yards of the Decatur as it conducted a freedom-of-navigation operation in the South China Sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, he added that the \u201cvast majority\u201d of encounters with Chinese warships in the South China Sea \u201care conducted in accordance with the Code of Unplanned Encounters at Sea and done in a safe and professional manner.\u201d The code is an agreement reached by 21 Pacific nations in 2014 to reduce the chance of an incident at sea between the agreement\u2019s signatories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Richardson also said \u201cthe United States Navy is committed to resuming the rotational deployments of littoral combat ships to Singapore and Southeast Asia, and we look forward to using these platforms to engage with our allies and partners.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t