The U.S. Navy deployed five vessels to the South China Sea, following China’s show of military might in the area. Leading the American armada is the carrier John C. Stennis which left Washington state on Jan. 15.
The Navy Times reported that cruisers Mobile Bay and Antietam, and destroyers Stockdale and Chung-Goon left for the disputed waters recently. It would be joined by Blue Ridge, the command vessel that serves as the floating headquarters of the 7th Fleet based in Japan, which is already in the region on its way to make a visit to the Philippines.
Admiral Harry Harris, head of the U.S. Pacific Command, accused Beijing of militarizing the South China Sea in a testimony before Congress on Feb. 24. In February, China sent an advanced surface-to-missile battery to the Paracel Island, causing a stand-off and increasing political and military tension in the area.
In response to the statement of Harris, Fu Ying, spokeswoman of China’s National People’s Congress, said, “The accusation [that China is militarizing the region] can lead to a miscalculation of the situation.” She pointed out, “If you take a look at the matter closely, it’s the US sending the most advanced aircraft and military vessels to the South China Sea.”
Yu said on Friday that the U.S. sent 60 percent of its navy to Asia-Pacific. “The U.S.] is strengthening military deployments with its alliances in the Asia-Pacific region. If we’re talking about militarization, what’s this? Isn’t it militarization,” quoted Fortune.
But officials of Antienam, based in Japan, said it was holding a “routine patrol” different from the mission of Stennis, which is to follow up patrols made by McCambell, a destroyer, and Ashland, a dock landing vessel, in late February.