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Two US plane carriers have been conducting workouts within the disputed South China Sea on Saturday, the US navy mentioned, as China additionally carried out navy drills which were criticised by the Pentagon and neighbouring states.
China and the United States have accused one another of stoking rigidity within the strategic waterway at a time of strained relations over the whole lot from the brand new coronavirus to commerce to Hong Kong.
The USS Nimitz and USS Ronald Reagan have been finishing up operations and workouts within the South China Sea “to support a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the navy mentioned in a press release.
It didn’t say precisely the place the workouts have been being carried out within the South China Sea, which extends for some 1,500 km (900 miles) and 90% of which is claimed by China regardless of the protests of its neighbours.
“The purpose is to show an unambiguous signal to our partners and allies that we are committed to regional security and stability,” Rear Admiral George M. Wikoff was quoted as saying by the Wall Street Journal, which first reported the workouts.
Wikoff, commander of the strike group led by the Ronald Reagan, mentioned the workouts weren’t a response to these being carried out by China, which the Pentagon criticised this week as “counter-productive to efforts at easing tensions and maintaining stability”.
China dismissed the US criticism of its drills on Friday and prompt the United States was to blame for rising tensions.
US carriers have lengthy carried out workouts within the Western Pacific, together with within the South China Sea, in accordance to the US navy. At one level not too long ago, the United States had three carriers within the area.
China introduced final week it had scheduled 5 days of drills beginning July 1 close to the Paracel Islands, that are claimed by each Vietnam and China.
Vietnam and the Philippines have additionally criticised the deliberate Chinese drills, warning they may create rigidity within the area and impression Beijing’s relationship with its neighbours.
The United States accuses China of making an attempt to intimidate Asian neighbours who may need to exploit its in depth oil and fuel reserves. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam additionally lay declare to elements of the South China Sea, by means of which about $three trillion of commerce passes every year.
The US assertion mentioned the naval workouts gave commanders the flexibleness and capabilities “that only the US Navy can command”.
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