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According to the newspaper South China Morning Post (SCMP), the United States stepped up its military operations in waters close to China this year as the risk of confrontation between the two countries continued to rise. Since the beginning of this year, aircraft from the United States Armed Forces have flown over the South China Sea, East China Sea, Yellow Sea, and Taiwan Strait a total of 39 times, three times more than in the same period in 2019.
In particular, two US military flights were conducted near Hong Kong, indicating a “close” approach to China.
Meanwhile, the US Navy. USA Exercise your right freedom of navigation in the south china sea 4 times in the first 4 months of this year compared to 8 times in 2019. Most recently, the guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill passed through the Spratly Islands (of Vietnam). On May 8, it was also reported that the coastal combat ships USS Montgomery and USNS Cesar Chavez were also operating in the South China Sea.
The commander of the United States Seventh Strike Expeditionary Unit, Fred Kacher, insisted that they would fly, navigate and operate in international waters in the South China Sea in accordance with maritime standards and international law.
Guided missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill. Photo: USA USA Navy
SCMP comments although not participating in disputes in East Sea or East China Sea But the United States maintains a strong military presence in the region to show its support for the allies. Furthermore, the United States also wants to oppose China’s illegal construction of artificial islands and increasingly aggressive actions in international waters.
United States Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said he wanted to boost military investment in the region. “The United States, India and Pacific Command has done a good job of maintaining its display of strength, deterrence, capability and combat readiness,” Esper said.
According to SCMP, by seeing Beijing build artificial islands, actively patrol, deploy military and intimidate its neighbors, Washington has no choice but to intensify its military operations in the south china sea.
Rand Corporation (United States) security expert Timothy Heath said the United States has not invested in building forces capable of fighting the army with advanced technology such as the People’s Liberation Army (EPL). “It appears that the United States agrees to reduce its ability to deal with short-term conflict to set aside resources for these long-term investments,” Heath said.
Song Zhongping, a military commentator in Hong Kong, said the conflict between the United States and China was beyond military reach. This will be a full-blown conflict that not only involves the military but also in other areas such as commerce, culture, and ideology.
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