Ignoring repeated warnings from Beijing not to aggravate tensions in Southeast Asia, the US Navy has deployed an aircraft carrier strike group for “routine” maritime patrols in the vicinity of the disputed South China Sea waters.
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, together with aircraft from the Carrier Air Wing 2, and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer started “routine operations in the South China”, the US Navy announced, RT reported.
The deployment of the Carrier Strike Group 1 began on Saturday, just days after China issued a stern warning to stay away from the area.
“China has indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea islands and their adjacent waters,” China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Geng Shuang said on Wednesday.
“China respects and upholds the freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea which countries enjoy under international law, but firmly opposes any country’s attempt to undermine China’s sovereignty and security in the name of the freedom of navigation and overflight.”
Despite the warning, US patrols got underway in the disputed waters, right after an American flotilla held drills off the islands of Hawaii and Guam to “maintain and improve their readiness and develop cohesion as a strike group”, said Rear Adm. James Kilby, commander of CSG 1.
As tensions between US and China intensify, the US Navy appears to continue to disregard Beijing’s interests in the immediate proximity of the disputed islands, claiming the moves are designed to ensure the principles of freedom of navigation in international waters.
While freedom of navigation and military drills accelerated under President Barack Obama’s administration, Trump and his team appear to be heading on a collision course with China.
