US Navy – The USS Constellation and USS Carl Vinson battlegroups held exercises in the South China sea, sending a signal to China that the US does not consider the South China sea to be a Chinese territory. Subsequently a P-3C patrol plane was denied permission to visit Hong Kong on a training mission.

• CNN: U.S. Navy plays in China’s backyard
• Associated Press: China bars US Navy plane

US Navy – The US Navy’s naval aviation woes are slowly improving.

• Virginian Pilot: Navy air commander says fleet back on track

Background – Okinawa – A closer look at the complex social scene on Okinawa. Do all the Japanese want the US forces off the island?

• Time: Sex And Race In Okinawa