Declaration comes days after a confrontation in Persian Gulf

Communist giant continuing efforts to build military presence in South China Sea, more

Defense secretary calls asymptomatic spread aboard ship “disconcerting”

Secretary of state slams Chinese Communist Party’s ‘telecom architecture’

Troubled waters becoming scene of multiple international flare-ups

Says ‘we can’t have business as usual after this crisis’

The vessel was forced to cut short its Mediterranean Sea mission, returning to its home port of Toulon on Sunday

Mysterious outbreak aboard USNS Mercy after entire crew previously tested, cleared

Service says ship & crew are now safe, but advises nearby vessels remain vigilant