Chris Coons actually said...

"there are real benefits to the United States in terms of navigational rights I would like to focus on."

"freedom of navigation operations, which are provocative to nations, some of which are our allies, some of which are our opponents, have steadily increased in number, in seriousness, in cost and comple..."

"If the United States did not contest an excessive claim through either routine or special freedom of navigation operations, are we at some risk that that would set a new precedent?"

"Secretary Panetta said clearly at the last hearing we never give up our right to self-defense."