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The missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur sailed within 12 nautical miles (22 kilometers) of Triton Island in the Paracel chain "to challenge excessive maritime claims of parties that claim the Paracel Islands," without notifying the three claimants beforehand, Defense Department spokesman Mark Wright said Saturday in Washington.. China, Taiwan and Vietnam have overlapping claims in the Paracels and require prior notice from ships transiting what they consider their territorial waters. The latest operation was particularly aimed at China, which has increased tensions with the U.S. and its Southeast Asian neighbors by embarking on massive construction of man-made islands and airstrips...

The U.S. Navy's two Aegis-equipped destroyers temporarily left the waters in the Sea of Japan and the Pacific side of Japan where they had been deployed to detect and track North Korea's missile launches, U.S. administration sources said Friday. The move stems from North Korea's failed test of a Taepodong-2 long-range ballistic missile and a U.S. assessment that it will take time for the North to prepare to launch another one. The two destroyers, the Curtis Wilbur and Fitzgerald, had been deployed in those waters since North Korea accelerated its preparation over the past weeks to launch the Taepodong-2,...

JCOC Visitors Observe Forward-Deployed Navy at Work By Donna MilesAmerican Forces Press Service YOKOSUKA, Japan, Sept. 15, 2004 — Civilian leaders from throughout the United States got a firsthand glimpse today at the forward-deployed naval force able to quickly respond to threats throughout the massive Pacific region. Participants in the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference join crewmembers from the guided missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur in observing the raising of the colors during the group's visit to Yokosuka, Japan, Sept. 15. Photo by Donna Miles(Click photo for screen-resolution image); high-resolution image available. The business, civic, academic and local government "movers...

<p>Japan's navy began a major annual training exercise on Friday, including joint maneuvers with the U.S. Navy, mobilizing as many as 25,000 personnel, 80 ships and 170 aircraft around Japanese shores.</p> <p>During the 10-day maneuvers -- the largest this year -- the Maritime Self-Defense Force also will be joined by the Navy's Seventh Fleet to simulate anti-submarine, air defense and anti-ship warfare, according to Japan's Defense Agency.</p>

Allies Show Off Maritime Security Skills Sunday September 14, 2003 1:09 AM By MIKE CORDER Associated Press Writer ON BOARD HMAS SUCCESS (AP) - Japanese coast guardsmen slid down ropes from a helicopter to a cargo ship Saturday, during a high seas exercise showing rogue nations that the world is serious about preventing the transport of weapons of mass destruction. The maneuvers on the Coral Sea allowed the United States, Japan and Australia to fine tune moves to intercept ships suspected of carrying the deadly armaments. The exercises served as a special warning to North Korea and Iran because of...

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) - The first international air and naval exercise in a U.S.-led plan to stamp out global trade in weapons of mass destruction began Saturday off Australia's northeast coast, as North Korea branded the drill a "military provocation." The 11-nation operation, dubbed Exercise Pacific Protector, is the first by the signatories to the Proliferation Security Initiative proposed by President Bush in May to stop illegal weapons shipments by air, land or sea. About 800 military and security personnel - as well as aircraft and ships - from Australia, the United States, Japan and France are involved in the...