Beijing has not formally commented on the incident, but the state-run Global Times newspaper reported Monday that the U.S. ship had first harassed the Liaoning and its group of support ships, getting too close to a Chinese naval drill and entering within 30 miles of the Chinese fleet's “inner defense layer.”
As China expands its navy's reach and starts to challenge decades of American military predominance in the region, it's becoming more common for vessels of the two nations to operate in close proximity.
The Obama administration has made it a priority to seek closer military cooperation with China to prevent misunderstandings that could spark a clash—part of a broader push to foster friendly ties between the established world power and the emerging one.
Kerry is in the Philippines on the last leg of a trip to the Middle East and Asia. Before heading for home on Wednesday he will visit the Philippine city of Tacloban, which was hard hit by last month's deadly Typhoon Haiyan.
The U.S. was a major contributor of relief after the disaster and Kerry is expected to announce additional support during a brief inspection tour of the storm-ravaged area.
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