SOUTH CHINA SEA (Dec. 14, 2023) Sailors stand watch on the bridge aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Sterett (DDG 104) during routine operations in the South China Sea. Sterett, assigned to Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1, is deployed to U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Charles J. Scudella III)