Recent developments in the East China Sea have demonstrated that improving our understanding of regional events and key players is critical to assuring our allies and partners of U.S. commitment to the region and protecting U.S. interests. Tensions in the East and South China Seas have been ongoing now for several years as China attempts to exert its influence in claiming land, sea, and airspace that is clearly beyond their internationally recognized borders. While naval modernization is a natural development for any seafaring nation such as China, it is clear the modernization is emboldening the Chinese Government to exert their interests by bullying their neighbors and pushing back the United States in the Asia-Pacific region.