Joe Biden

Vice President Biden Discusses Asia-Pacific Region at Navy Graduation

Vice President Joe Biden tells graduates at the U.S. Naval Academy that 60 percent of the nation's naval forces will be stationed in the Asia-Pacific region in five years.

Biden spoke Friday to 1,070 graduating students in Annapolis, Maryland.

He says many of them will head to the Asia-Pacific region to help manage emerging challenges before they devolve into conflict.

The vice president says equitable resolution of disputes and freedom of navigation principals are being challenged now by Chinese activities in the South China Sea, and the nation will need the Navy to protect those principals.

There are 866 men and 204 women graduating from the academy. Of them, 790 will be commissioned as Navy ensigns, and 264 will be commissioned as 2nd lieutenants in the Marine Corps.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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