NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT

JENNIFER GRIFFIN TELLS US ABOUT

A REINFORCED MESSAGE TO CHINA.

>> THE UNITED STATES MILITARY

HAS HAD A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN

THE WESTERN PACIFIC TAKING ON

SMALLER ISLANDS.

>> A NOT SO VEILED WARNING TO

CHINA TO BUILD UP SECURITY IN

THE CHINA SEA.

SHOWING CHINA HAS PLACED NEW

SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES IN THE

SPRATLY, AND RECENTLY LANDED

NUCLEAR CAPABLE BOMBERS ON WOODY

ALLEN.

CHINA CALLS THE ACCUSATION

RIDICULOUS.

DEFENSE SECRETARY JIM MATTIS

WILL REASSURE ALLIES THAT THE

U.S. WILL NOT ALLOW CHINA TO

SPREAD ITS INFLUENCE UNCHECKED.

>> THERE HAD BEEN A PROMISE IN

2015 BY PRESIDENT XI WHERE HE

STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE

MILITARY RISING THE ISLANDS.

WE HAVE SEEN THAT THEY HAVE DONE

EXACTLY THAT.

>> HAD A CHANGE OF COMMAND

CEREMONY IN HAWAII, THE OUTGOING

HEAD OF U.S. PACIFIC HORSES,

ADMIRAL HARRY HARRIS, ISSUED

ANOTHER WARNING.

>> CHINA REMAINS THE BIGGEST

LONG-TERM CHALLENGE, WITHOUT

FOCUS, INVOLVEMENT, AND

ENGAGEMENT BY THE UNITED STATES

AND OUR ALLIES AND PARTNERS,

THEY WILL REALIZE A GEMINI IN A

JOB.

WE SHOULD COOPERATE WITH BEIJING

WHERE WE CAN, BUT STAND READY TO

CONFRONT THEM WHEN WE MUST.

>> THE U.S. HAS STEPPED UP

OPERATIONS TO COUNTER CHINA,

SENDING NAVAL VESSELS NEAR THE

MAN-MADE ISLANDS THIS PAST

WEEKEND.

AND MATTIS ANNOUNCES HE HAS

CHANGED THE NAME OF PAY COMMS TO

END OPAQUE CALM, A SHOT ACROSS

THE BOW AT CHINA THAT FEELS

THREATENED BY WAY RIVAL INDIA.

IT SERVES AS A BACKDROP TO

POTENTIAL NORTH KOREA TALKS.

>> THE 27 YEAR HOLIDAY FROM

HISTORY IS OVER.