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 — 'U.S. government vessel, this is Chinese Navy vessel' number whatever — '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.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.