U.S. Navy Suspends Search Of Missing Sailor

SOUTH CHINA SEA -- U.S. naval forces have suspended their search of a sailor who went missing during a U.S.-Japan joint drill on Tuesday in the South China Sea.

The missing sailor was identified as Lieutenant Steven Hopkins, a Texas native. He was serving on the guided-mission destroyer U.S.S. Stethem, according to the 7th Fleet.

AFP reported that according to the 7th Fleet, Japan and China joined the U.S. in the 79-hour search for LT Hopkins, but eventually gave up after searching over 10,000 square-miles.

Captain Jeffrey Bennett, commander of the Destroyer Squadron 15, said the search operation was "unable to locate" LT Hopkins.

The missing sailor event follows a series of recent mishaps in the military. A sailor went missing in June but was found in the engine room a week later, and he now faces a court martial.

Also in June, seven sailors were killed after a collision with a cargo ship in the seas of Japan, the 7th Fleet reported.

Despite Beijing's claims to the South China Sea, the U.S. and Japanese naval forces have been conducting exercises in the area.

Article image U.S. Navy