In Beijing's backyard, U.S. demonstrates its military might
World
Voyage part of US commitment to protect freedom of passage for international trade
(Reuters) - A display of American military might in some of the most fiercely disputed waterways in the world takes place over the course of a few hours under overcast skies as scores of combat aircraft and helicopters blast on and off the flight deck of the aircraft carrier Nimitz.
The Nimitz, which is in charge of a carrier strike group that entered the South China Sea two weeks earlier, is greeted by thunderous shouts as MH-60 Seahawk helicopters and F/A-18 Hornet planes with pilot call signs like "Fozzie Bear," "Pig Sweat," and "Bongoo" touch down in the mist.
Rear Admiral Christopher Sweeney, the group s commander, stated that the voyage was a component of the U.S. commitment to protect freedom of passage in the seas and skies of a crucial region for international trade.
Allies like Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and Australia have welcomed a U.S. presence in the South China Sea, which is a route for roughly $3.4 trillion in annual commerce, but it continues to enrage rival China, which sees the drills as provocations in its backyard.
Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and the Philippines all have exclusive economic zones in the South China Sea, which China claims to have historically had historical sovereignty over.
Beijing has also been holding regular drills and maintaining a significant number of coast guard and fishing vessels far from the mainland, which is a common cause of conflict with its neighbours.
The guided-missile cruiser Bunker Hill and the guided-missile destroyers Decatur, Wayne E. Meyer, and Chung-Hoon are all members of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group 11. On January 5, the Chung-Hoon sailed across the delicate Taiwan Strait, upsetting China.
That occurred two weeks after an American aircraft was startled when a Chinese navy J-11 fighter jet flew within 10 feet (3 metres) of it over the South China Sea.
