US demonstrates its navy may in Beijing’s yard

The United States demonstrated its navy energy with dozens of fight planes and helicopters in South China Sea.

South China Sea,UPDATED: Jan 28, 2023 07:32 IST

Three A F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter jet seen parked on the deck of the USS Nimitz Aircraft Carrier throughout a deployment to the South China Sea, Mid-Sea. (Photo: Reuters)

By Reuters: Over just a few hours below gray skies, dozens of fight planes and helicopters roar on and off the flight deck of the plane service Nimitz, in an indication of US navy energy in among the world’s most hotly contested waters.

MH-60 Seahawk helicopters and F/A-18 Hornet jets bearing pilot name indicators like “Fozzie Bear”, “Pig Sweat” and “Bongoo” emit deafening screams as they land within the drizzle on the Nimitz, which is main a service strike group that entered the South China Sea two weeks in the past.

The group’s commander, Rear Admiral Christopher Sweeney, mentioned the tour was a part of a US dedication to uphold freedom of passage within the waters and airspace of a area important to world commerce.

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“We are going to sail, fly and operate wherever international norms and rules allow. We’re going to do that safely and we’re going to be resolute about that,” Sweeney informed Reuters on Friday.

“It’s really just about sailing and operating obviously with our allies and partners in the area and assuring them of free and open commerce and trade in the Indo-Pacific.”

A US presence within the South China Sea, a conduit for about $3.4 trillion of annual commerce, has been welcomed by allies like Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and Australia, nevertheless it continues to rile rival China, which sees the workout routines as provocations in its yard.

China claims historic jurisdiction over virtually the complete South China Sea, which incorporates the unique financial zones of Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines.

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Beijing has been conducting common workout routines too and maintains a big presence of coast guard and fishing vessels far off its mainland – a supply of frequent pressure with its neighbours.

The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group 11 consists of the guided-missile cruiser Bunker Hill and the guided-missile destroyers Decatur, Wayne E. Meyer and Chung-Hoon. The Chung-Hoon on Jan. 5 sailed by way of the delicate Taiwan Strait, irking China.

That got here two weeks after a Chinese navy J-11 fighter jet triggered alarm when it got here inside 10 ft (3 metres) of a US Air Force airplane over the South China Sea.

Sweeney mentioned it was essential for worldwide guidelines to be adopted and mentioned the US presence within the South China Sea demonstrated its dedication to its regional allies.

“We’ve operated in the same body of water as the Chinese or the Singaporean navy or the Filipino navy since we’ve arrived and it’s all been safe and professional,” he mentioned.

“We’re going to sail, fly and operate wherever international waters allow us to, so we’re not going anywhere.”

Posted By:

Manisha Pandey

Published On:

Jan 28, 2023