Sending 2 aircraft carriers to the East Sea: What message does the US want to send?

Two aircraft carriers sent to the East Sea for the first time in 6 years

For the first time in six years, two US Navy aircraft carriers are present in the South China Sea - the latest move to demonstrate Washington's military might to oppose China's unreasonable sovereignty claims.

Operating under the name Nimitz Carrier Strike Group, US aircraft carriers such as the USS Nimitz and USS Ronald Reagan "conducted a number of tactical exercises, designed to maximize air defense capabilities and extend the precision of maritime strikes within the long range of carrier-based aircraft," the US Navy said in a statement.

This is the first time two US aircraft carriers have operated together in the South China Sea since 2014 and only the second time since 2001, said Lieutenant Commander Sean Brophy, a spokesman on the Reagan.

The US Navy statement also emphasized: "These efforts affirm the enduring US commitment to stand up for the rights of all nations to sail, fly, and operate wherever international law allows."

US-China relations have continued to deteriorate this year following tensions on a range of issues.

Washington has repeatedly conducted operations in the South China Sea, sending heavy bombers there and conducting joint naval exercises with partners such as Japan and Singapore.

However, the US sending two aircraft carriers to the East Sea, each with 60 fighter jets, missiles and destroyers, seems to be a clear statement that Washington will not cede any influence in the region to Beijing.

"Nimitz and Reagan have built the world's fastest and most effective combat force, supporting US commitments to our defense agreements with our allies and regional partners, and promoting peace and prosperity throughout the Indo-Pacific," the US Navy said in a statement.

Meanwhile, China believes that the US presence will destabilize the region."Some countries outside the region frequently travel thousands of kilometers to the South China Sea to engage in large-scale military activities and show off their strength, which is the fundamental reason affecting stability in the South China Sea," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian.

Show of power only the US Navy has

American analyst Carl Schuster, former director of operations at the Joint Intelligence Center of the Pacific Command, said that the US sending two aircraft carriers to the East Sea at this time is to show off the power that only the US Navy has.

China has only one operational aircraft carrier and one nearing completion. However, neither of these carriers is as large or capable of carrying as many fighter jets as the two US Navy carriers.

"The difference in the scale of combat power in the exercises of the Chinese Navy and the US Navy is remarkable. The above move of the US sent a military and geopolitical message to both China and the region. The US Navy's exercise showed which side has greater potential power," Mr. Schuster assessed.

In addition, the US has increased its firepower in recent exercises by sending B-52 bombers to fly with other fighters from aircraft carriers. The B-52 "Flying Fortress" flew for 28 consecutive hours from its base in Louisiana to participate in these exercises, demonstrating the US's ability to quickly mobilize vehicles to hot spots around the world.

“This sortie demonstrated our ability to move aircraft from base to anywhere in the world, quickly restore strength and resume operations,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Duff, 96th Bomb Squadron commander.

China's Global Times called the US aircraft carriers "paper tigers" and asserted that the country has enough firepower to deal with Washington. Shortly after, the US Navy quickly responded on Twitter: "Two US Navy aircraft carriers are operating in international waters in the South China Sea. USS Nimitz and USS Ronald Reagan will not be intimidated"./.

Kieu Anh