Obama Administration to Military: Be Quiet About China

The U.S. Navy's top commander in the Pacific is calling for a strong military response to China's moves in the South China Sea but the Obama administration has silenced him.

According to the Navy Times, Adm. Harry Harris would like to see the U.S. military flex its muscles in the face of China's construction of artificial islands, the closest of which would be roughly 140 miles from the capital of the Philippines. President Barack Obama's National Security Adviser Susan Rice, however, has ordered military brass to keep their opinions on the matter to themselves.

The administration is in the process of trying to work with China on several issues, including trade and nuclear weapons.

"They want to get out of office with a minimum of fuss and a maximum of cooperation with China," retired Navy captain Jerry Hendrix told Navy Times.

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