Randy Forbes: “I am concerned that we decreased the funding in this account from FY12 levels by $36 million--resulting in a backlog of…”

There is no legal authority to draw a big circle in the water a thousand miles long and then claim it as some sort of special zone or internal waters.

I think reasonable people can have different views on it. My perspective is that the benefits of the Law of the Sea Convention do outweigh any sort of perceived risks.

I also see an opportunity for a new administration to take a new and stronger stance on the South China Sea.

I do not see it as inevitable that we will have a confrontation with China in the South China Sea if we have the correct strategy to avoid such confrontation and potential conflict.