US Navy aircraft carriers' drill gives China taste of own medicine after ASEAN rebukes Xi

A look at recent developments in South China Sea, where China is pitted against smaller neighbors in multiple territorial disputes over islands, coral reefs and lagoons. waters are a major shipping route for global commerce and are rich in fish and possible oil and gas reserves.

US CARRIER STRIKE GROUPS DRILL

Two U.S. Navy aircraft carrier strike groups are conducting dual operations in Philippine Sea in a show of service’s ability to rapidly deploy overwhelming force in support of allies locked in disputes with China. Ships and aircraft assigned to Nimitz and Ronald Reagan groups began drills Sunday, U.S. 7th Fleet responsible for operations in Indo-Pacific said in a news release.

“Dual carrier operations demonstrate our commitment to regional allies ... and our readiness to confront all those who challenge international rms,” Rear Admiral George Wikoff, commander Carrier Strike Group 5, was quoted as saying.

“ U.S. Navy regularly conducts integrated strike group operations to support a free and open Indo-Pacific, and promote an international rules-based order wherein each country can reach its potential without sacrificing national sovereignty,” release said.

ASEAN LEADERS REBUKE CHINA

Souast Asian leaders have issued one of ir strongest ever statements opposing China’s claim to virtually entire disputed waters on historical grounds. leaders of Association of Souast Asian Nations took position in a statement issued by Vietnam on Saturday on behalf of 10-nation bloc.

“We reaffirmed that 1982 UNCLOS is basis for determining maritime entitlements, sovereign rights, jurisdiction and legitimate interests over maritime zones,” ASEAN statement said.

leaders were referring to United Nations Convention on Law of Sea that defines rights of nations to world’s oceans and demarcates exclusive ecomic zones where coastal states are given right to exclusively tap fishery and fuel resources. Three Souast Asian diplomats told Associated Press statement marked a significant strengning of regional bloc’s assertion of rule of law in a disputed region that has long been regarded as an Asian flash point. China has been seen as seeking to block such statements by calling on support from Cambodia and or allies within ASEAN.

PHILIPPINES WARNS ON CHINESE ADIZ

Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana is warning that any move by China to establish an air defense identification zone over South China Sea would be highly destabilizing.

“It is my fervent hope that China would t proceed with this planned action for continued peace and stability in entire South China Sea,” Lorenzana said in a statement on June 25.

China is believed to be considering setting up an ADIZ in region similar to one it declared over East China Sea in 2013. That earlier declaration was largely igred, with U.S. among countries saying it would t cooperate with Chinese demands to anunce flight plans and identify its aircraft. China has said a decision on wher to set up an ADIZ in South China Sea would depend on to what degree it felt threatened. Lorenzana said a Chinese ADIZ would violate or countries’ rights to ir exclusive ecomic zones.

“y would continue to use se waters and air, and thus would furr raise an already heightening tension and could result in mishaps or miscalculations at sea and in air,” Lorenzana said.

US, JAPANESE SHIPS EXERCISE TOGER

U.S. and Japanese naval vessels held joint exercises in South China Sea on June 23, bringing toger two of China’s biggest military rivals in a waterway Beijing claims as its own. exercise was designed to “practice and enhance bilateral interoperability between two navies,” U.S. 7th Fleet said in a news release.

drills brought toger Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Gabrielle Giffords with Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Kashima class-training vessel JS Kashima and Shimayuki-class training vessel JS Shimayuki (TV-3513) China frowns on all U.S. military activity in South China Sea and says Japan’s presence re reawakens concerns about Japanese militarism dating before World War II.