The U.S. military carried out fewer “freedom of navigation operation” patrols near China in fiscal year 2021 than it did the previous year, although the number of missions rose overall, according to a Department of Defense report published on April 1.
The report states that during the period from Oct. 1, 2020, through Sept. 30, 2021, U.S. forces operationally challenged 37 different excessive maritime claims made by 26 different claimants around the world.
