‘Show of force’: US aircraft carriers patrol South China Sea for first time in 3 years

12 Jun, 2020 4:49pm 6 minutes to

The dispute in the South China Sea has brought multiple nations into a potentially dangerous conflict over territory. Video / CNNOther

For the first time in nearly three years, three American aircraft carriers are patrolling the Indo-Pacific waters, a massive show of naval force in a region roiled by spiking tensions between the US and China and a sign that the Navy has bounced back from the worst days of the coronavirus outbreak.

The unusual simultaneous appearance of the three warships, accompanied by Navy cruisers, destroyers, fighter jets and other aircraft, comes as the US escalates criticism of Beijing’s response to the coronavirus outbreak, its moves to impose greater control over Hong Kong and its campaign to militarise human-made islands in the South China Sea.

The USS Ronald Reagan has left port in Japan and is operating in the Philippine Sea south of there. Photo / AP

“There have been some indications in Chinese writings that the United States was hit hard by Covid-19, that military preparedness was low, so perhaps there is an effort by the United States to signal China that it should not miscalculate,” said Bonnie Glaser, director of the China Power Project at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

“The Chinese will definitely portray this as an example of US provocations, and as evidence that the US is a source of instability in the region.”ADVERTISEMENTAdvertise with NZME.

President Donald Trump, criticised for his own handling of the coronavirus outbreak, has condemned China for what he sees as a failure to adequately warn the world about the Covid-19 threat.

The administration has also moved to ban Chinese graduate students and researchers with links to the People’s Liberation Army or other security services from the United States.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt, pictured, and its strike group are operating in the Philippine Sea near Guam. Photo / Getty Images

The convergence of three carrier strike groups in the region is unusual because of the limited number of carriers and the fact that they are often cycling through repair schedules, port visits, training or deployments to other parts of the world.

This week, however, Navy commanders said they were able to take advantage of the timing, particularly during this period of great power competition with China.

The US national defence strategy cites China as a top security concern, and Pentagon leaders have been working to shift more resources and military assets to the region to battle what they see is Beijing’s growing economic influence and military might.

“The ability to be present in a strong way is part of the competition. And as I always tell my guys here, you’ve got to be present to win when you’re competing,” said Rear Adm. Stephen Koehler, director of operations at Indo-Pacific Command.

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