Training Photos of Pacific Fleet Carrier Strike Group Released
15 Chinese Military Aircraft Enter Taiwan Strait... Countermeasures Taken
On the 7th (local time), the U.S. Pacific Fleet officially shared on Twitter images of joint exercises conducted with the Malaysian Air Force over the South China Sea. [Image source: U.S. Pacific Fleet Twitter]
[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] As the United States continues to pressure China by releasing photos of the Pacific Fleet's training exercises, including joint drills between an aircraft carrier strike group and the Royal Malaysian Air Force in the South China Sea, as well as the passage of a destroyer through the Taiwan Strait, military tensions in the South China Sea region are escalating further. In response, China is countering with a show of force by dispatching a large number of military aircraft to the southern waters near Taiwan.
On the 7th (local time), the U.S. Pacific Fleet Command posted on its official Twitter account a series of photos showing recent joint exercises in the South China Sea involving the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and the Royal Malaysian Air Force, as well as the guided missile destroyer USS John S. McCain passing through the Taiwan Strait. The Pacific Fleet emphasized that "the U.S. military will continue to fly, sail, and operate wherever international law allows," highlighting that these exercises are part of a 'Freedom of Navigation Operation.'
Since President Joe Biden took office last January, U.S. naval vessels have conducted so-called 'Freedom of Navigation' operations through the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea about once a month. Considering that in the past, U.S. fleets passed through the Taiwan Strait roughly once a year, this increase in operational frequency is unusual. This is analyzed as a show of military strength aimed at containing China amid growing concerns over a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan.
US guided missile destroyer USS John S. McCain passing through the Taiwan Strait [Image source= US Pacific Fleet Twitter]
On the same day, the U.S. State Department also issued a statement to counter China's threats against Taiwan. Ned Price, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, said at a press conference, "We express serious concern over China's recent threats against Taiwan and the South China Sea region," and warned, "The United States will maintain strong capabilities to deter any use of force or coercion that jeopardizes the security and economy of the Taiwanese people."
China, which claims the Taiwan Strait as its territorial waters, strongly opposes these actions. The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese military, which oversees the Taiwan Strait, stated, "The U.S. move sends the wrong signal to Taiwan independence forces and interferes with regional affairs, threatening peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. We firmly oppose this and will strengthen defense and security measures to respond to all threats and provocations."
China is responding to the U.S. show of force by dispatching a large number of military aircraft to Taiwan. According to Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense, in response to the U.S. destroyer's passage through the Taiwan Strait the previous day, China violated Taiwan's southern coastal Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) with 15 military aircraft, including eight J-10 fighter jets, four J-16 fighter jets, one Y-8 anti-submarine patrol aircraft, and two KJ-500 early warning aircraft.
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