USS Nimitz (CVN 68), a U.S. aircraft carrier
The commander of the U.S. Navy carrier battle group said the Chinese Communist military has recently increased its deployment of warships and combat aircraft in the South China Sea waters; at the same Time, two U.S. carrier battle groups have recently conducted joint exercises in the area to strengthen the defense of international high seas rights in the area.
“There are far more of them than there were.” Rear Adm. Doug Verissimo, commander of the USS Roosevelt carrier battle group, said at a press conference, “We’re seeing more Chinese Communist military aircraft, more warships, and daily maneuvers.”
General Verissimo said the dual carrier battle strike group is the third buildup at sea since 2017, and “the forces we have assembled have been significantly enhanced in every way.”
The two carriers and accompanying warships, including 10,000 sailors and Marines, conducted a massive exercise in the region to demonstrate the scale of force.
The Chinese Communist Navy regularly confronts U.S. warships in the South China Sea and has demanded that they leave the area. The U.S. Navy has countered that the waters are international high seas waters and has ignored the Chinese navy.
Rear Admiral Verissimo told reporters that the aircraft carrier USS Roosevelt conducted joint exercises with the USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group last week to strengthen allies in the region and to ensure that the strategic seaway remains an international high seas area “free and open to all. He also added that the deployment of Chinese naval and air forces has increased dramatically in recent years.
What military forces are deployed in the South China Sea?
After seizing Scarborough Shoal, over which the Philippines claims sovereignty in 2012, the Chinese Communist Party began building a sizeable military presence there. The Obama administration has ignored the Philippine government’s request for assistance under the Mutual Defense Treaty. This triggered a massive Communist Party island-building program that resulted in the construction of about 3,200 acres of new islands there in five years.
According to the Pentagon’s latest annual report on the CCP’s military, the CCP has deployed YJ-12B anti-ship missiles on several outposts in the South China Sea. In addition, the Communist Party is deploying more warships to two bases in the South China Sea, including many Type 056 frigates designed for anti-submarine warfare and the Red Taal-class wave-piercing catamaran patrol boats equipped with guided missiles.
In August 2020, the Communist Party test-fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles, the Dongfeng 21D and Dongfeng 26, into the South China Sea. The Communist Party is also installing an undersea monitoring system that will improve the accuracy of the missiles.
Rear Adm. James Kirk, commander of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group, said his fleet is aware of the potential danger anti-ship ballistic missiles pose to U.S. carriers. “The way we conduct our exercises takes into account these threats from the Chinese Communist Navy.” Rear Adm. Kirk said, “If we decide we want to have this kind of military action, it shows that we have the capability to protect our fleet.”
CCP also calls in militia ships to achieve political goals
The CCP Marines also have more than 10,000 men deployed in the region. In addition to the CCP military, the CCP has enlisted dozens of ships carrying a number of armed militias.
“In the South China Sea, the CCP’s armed militias (PAFMM) play a key role in the strategy of achieving political objectives without war, a strategy that is part of the CCP’s overall military objectives, and the CCP believes that confrontational operations without war are an effective means of achieving political objectives.” The Pentagon report said.
These armed militias have been involved in other incidents, including the harassment of a Navy reconnaissance vessel in 2009 and the standoff at Scarborough Reef in 2012.
“The construction of new airfields and hangars on outposts in the South China Sea has expanded the area of operations for Communist Chinese military airmen.” The Pentagon report warned.
Commenting on these Communist military facilities, Rear Admiral Verissimo said, “It shows a significant increase in their [the Communist military’s] activity, and I would say it has been steadily increasing.”
U.S. Rear Admiral: Dual Carrier Battle Strike Group Shows Determination to Support Security in South China Sea
Rear Adm. Kirk said the dual carrier battle group demonstrates a commitment to supporting security in the region and also demonstrates U.S. resolve. Both carrier strike groups are part of the U.S. Navy’s Seventh Fleet.
“The United States has consistently supported the right to freedom of navigation on the international high seas, which also guarantees the security of all nations in the Indo-Pacific region.” Rear Admiral Kirk said.
The U.S. Pacific Fleet said Feb. 9 that the USS Roosevelt and USS Nimitz carrier strike groups conducted a number of exercises in the South China Sea that day aimed at improving synergy between various Navy resources as well as command and control capabilities.
The Pacific Fleet said the ships and aircraft of the two strike groups demonstrated the U.S. Navy’s ability to operate in challenging environments by coordinating their operations in a heavily trafficked area.
French Defense Minister Florence Parly tweeted the evening of Feb. 8 that the French nuclear-powered submarine SNA Emeraude, accompanied by the support ship BSAM The French nuclear-powered submarine SNA Emeraude, accompanied by the support ship BSAM Seine, passed through the waters of the South China Sea, accompanied by photos of the two ships at sea.
The South China Sea is an important international shipping lane, and it is also rich in oil and gas resources. At present, in addition to mainland China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all claim part of the sovereignty in the sea.
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