US Navy carriers to traverse South China sea

China: Two US aircraft carriers and their staff of other warships will be heading to the South China Sea soon for a military exercise called "Long-Planned".

Lieutenant Joe Jeiley, a spokesperson for the Seventh Fleet headquartered at Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, said, "The USS Nimitz and USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Groups are conducting dual-carrier operations in the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea."

He further said, "The presence of strike groups provides advanced training opportunities for our forces and provides opposite commanders with considerable operational flexibility should those forces be called upon in response to regional situations. The presence of two carriers is not in response to any political or world events. This advanced capability is one of the many ways that US Navy promotes security, stability, and prosperity throughout Indo-Pacific."

The exercises may have been planned but their timing will raise some troubles in other countries of Pacific region. China is conducting military drills of its own in the Paracel Islands, where overlapping claims have made it a South China Sea hot spot. US holds no territorial claim in the area, but the 7th Fleet operates to maintain a balance of power between China and the 10-nation ASEAN group.

The US and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have expressed displeasure with China in recent days. Last week, Pompeo joined in the Brussels Forum virtual conference and spoke of the US reduction in troops in Europe and a step-up of activities to counter China. Speaking on the occasion, He said, "We are going to make sure we are postured properly to counter the People's Liberation Army (PLA). We think that is the challenge of our time and we are going to make sure we have resources in place to do that."

Speaking to the media persons, Pompeo blasted China on the new National Security Law imposed on Hong Kong that he called "draconian". The Pentagon issued a statement in recent days. He said, "China's military exercises are the latest in a long string of PRC actions to assert unlawful maritime claims and disadvantage its Southeast Asian neighbours in the South China Sea."

According to the officials, "The American military drills will not be held near any of the contested island chains or Chinese built artificial islands but the presence of two nuclear powered aircraft carriers will be a show of force that will send a stronger message than any freedom of navigation operation could do.