SHANGHAI — A US warship began a week-long port call in China Monday, a moment of cooperation as the two Asia-Pacific powerhouses jockey for position in the disputed South China Sea.
The USS Stethem, a guided missile destroyer, arrived in Shanghai ahead of planned drills with the People's Liberation Army Navy that include communications exercises and a surface rescue simulation.
The ship's commanding officer, Harry Marsh, told reporters the visit was intended to "build mutual trust" between the two navies.
US sailors, he said, would learn about their counterparts' "maritime experiences, so that when we operate at sea we can do it safely, and we understand what they are doing and what we do".
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