Rumors of War - Kings of the East

U.S. Navy to propose stronger South China Sea presence - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The U.S. Navy may be planning a freedom of navigation operations, or FONOPS, near disputed islands in the South China Sea. Several Navy officials told the Navy Times both the Navy and the U.S. Pacific Command are to propose sailing near China's artificial islands in the disputed Spratlys, and possibly the Paracel Islands, where China has been building a military presence. China's neighbor Vietnam is also a claimant to the Paracels. FONOPS is viewed by many in the Navy's leadership as a standard mission, according to the report."

Comment: Eventually what the China considers a standard naval mission and what the U.S. considers to be standard will be out of sync and the likelihood of conflict will be high.