Operation Sapphire Fury

Several weeks ago after lengthy consultation between the Joint Chiefs and POTUS, Admiral Rolland Marshall commanding officer of USINDOPACOM received standing orders to roll back the illegal occupation of the Philippine island province of Palawan. The United States had in the past stated that the growing occupation and militarization of islands in and around the South China Sea unacceptable. Publicly stated American policy towards the SCS littoral area was framed in the strongest words, but privately US leadership had made the decision for years to ignore what was happening in the region. It was perhaps this reluctance to take a greater roll that had emboldened the Chinese military to begin secretly building military facilities and air defences on the Philippine Island of Palawan, in order to finally take sea control of the SCSAO (South China Sea Area of Operations)