The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt departs Guam on May 21, 2020, on a mission to the Philippine Sea.
The U.S. military said Sunday (Jan. 23) that a U.S. carrier group led by the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt has entered the South China Sea to promote “freedom of the seas. Tensions between mainland China and Taiwan have raised concerns in Washington.
The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said in a statement that the group of attack ships entered the South China Sea on Saturday. On the same day, Taiwan reported a large number of Chinese bombers and fighter jets invading the air defense identification zone near the Plutas Islands.
The U.S. military says the carrier strike group is in the South China Sea. China claims most of it belongs to China. The U.S. says the carrier fleet is conducting routine operations “to ensure freedom of the seas and build partnerships that promote maritime security.”
The statement quoted Rear Adm. Doug Verissimo, commander of the strike group, as saying, “After traversing these waters during my 30-year career, it is a pleasure to be in the South China Sea again for routine activities to promote freedom of the seas and reassure allies and partners.”
In a statement, Verissimo said, “Since two-thirds of the world’s trade passes through this very important region, it is critical to maintain our presence and continue to promote the rules-based world order that allows us all to prosper.”
The announcement came just days after Biden was sworn in as president of the United States.
Biden’s nominee for secretary of state, Anthony Blinken, told Senate confirmation hearings Tuesday that “there is no question” that China poses the greatest challenge to the United States.
China has repeatedly complained about the proximity of U.S. Navy warships to Chinese-controlled islands in the South China Sea, where Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Taiwan all have competing claims.
Theodore Roosevelt will be accompanied by the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers USS Russell and USS John Finn, the U.S. statement said.
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