Two U.S. Navy aircraft carriers conducted exercises Saturday in contested waters of the South China Sea at the same time that China carried out controversial military exercises in the region.
The marine confirmed to Reuters that he USS Nimitz and USS Ronald Reagan were conducting operations and exercises in the South China Sea “to support a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
China claims sovereignty over most of the sea, a claim that other Southeast Asian countries reject.
“The purpose is to show an unequivocal signal to our partners and allies that we are committed to regional security and stability,” said Rear Admiral George M. Wikoff. The Wall Street Journal.
Wikoff said the exercises were in response to those carried out by Beijing, which he called “counterproductive to efforts to ease tensions and maintain stability.” The Pentagon has accused China of trying to intimidate its neighbors, including Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
The Navy did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Hill.
The move comes amid high tensions between Washington and Beijing over the latter’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, as well as trade problems and China’s effort to exercise greater control over Hong Kong.
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