ABOARD, THE USS BLUE RIDGE ¨C The voice on the radio in the middle of the South China Sea follows a familiar script for Capt. Eric Anduze, who helms the USS Blue Ridge. It¡¯s China on the phone.
¡°They¡¯ll contact us and they¡¯ll go ¡ª ¡®U.S. government vessel, this is Chinese Navy vessel¡¯ number whatever ¡ª ¡®we will maintain 5 miles from you and escort you as you make your transit,¡°¡¯ Anduze said, describing the English-speaking voice from a rival Chinese warship.
The U.S. response is short: ¡°Chinese vessel, this is government vessel one nine, copy, out.¡± From there on, silence, as the vessels of the world¡¯s rival powers steam onward together.
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