The US has sent an aircraft carrier and a number of other ships through disputed waters in the South China Sea, it announced yesterday - a move that will necessarily raise tensions with
Beijing, which has been engaging in an increasingly militaristic power-play in the area over the past few years.
Jerry Hendrix, analyst at the Center for a New American Security in Washington D.C. and former Navy captain, told
USA Today that carrier strike group is a clear demonstration. Associated units include USS
Stennis with CVW-9 and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 21 embarked, guided-missile destroyers
USS Stockdale, USS Chung-Hoon, and USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110), and guided-missile cruiser
USS Mobile Bay.
...
"We have Chinese ships around us that we normally didn't see in my past experience", said Capt. Greg Huffman, Stennis' commanding officer.
"In my opinion China is
clearly militarizing the South China Sea". The USS McCambell, a destroyer, and the USS Ashland, an amphibious dock landing ship, completed similar patrols last week.
The arrival of the ships came as Fu Ying, a spokeswoman for China's parliament, accused the United States of massively escalating its military level in the
South China Sea, further raising tensions.
The control of the
South China Sea is vital for both elements of this war strategy: it is adjacent to key military bases in southern China, including naval installations on Hainan Island; and at the same time, sits astride shipping routes through South East Asia to Africa and the Middle East.
United States warships patrol South China Sea; China keeps close watch