The Associated Press reports that “the top U.S. admiral said Wednesday that friendly exchanges with China’s navy are conditional on safe interactions at sea, an indication of Washington’s concern over recent fractious encounters with Chinese forces in and over the disputed South China Sea.”  

“On a visit to the northern Chinese port of Qingdao, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson said he backs more exchanges, but added: ‘In this area we must judge each other by our deeds and actions, not just by our words.'”  

“‘I am supportive of a continued and deepening navy-to-navy relationship, but I will be continuously reassessing my support conditioned on continued safe and professional interactions at sea,’ Richardson said, according to a Navy news release.”