US naval buildup in Indo-Pacific seen as warning to China

For first time in nearly three years, three American aircraft carriers are patrolling Indo-Pacific waters, a massive show of naval force in a region roiled by spiking tensions between US and China and a sign that Navy has bounced back from worst days of coronavirus outbreak.

unusual simultaneous appearance of three warships, accompanied by Navy cruisers, destroyers, fighter jets and or aircraft, comes as US escalates criticism of Beijing's response to coronavirus outbreak, its moves to impose greater control over Hong Kong and its campaign to militarise human-me islands in South China Sea.

“re have been some indications in Chinese writings that United States was hit hard by COVID-19, that military preparedness was low, so perhaps re is an effort by United States to signal China that it should t miscalculate,” said Bonnie Glaser, director of China Power Project at Center for Strategic and International Studies.

“ Chinese will definitely portray this as an example of US provocations, and as evidence that US is a source of instability in region."

President Donald Trump, criticised for his own handling of coronavirus outbreak, has condemned China for what he sees as a failure to equately warn world about COVID-19 threat. ministration has also moved to ban Chinese gruate students and researchers with links to People's Liberation Army or or security services from United States. convergence of three carrier strike groups in region is unusual because of limited number of carriers and fact that y are often cycling through repair schedules, port visits, training or deployments to or parts of world.

This week, however, Navy commanders said y were able to take vant of timing, particularly during this period of great power competition with China. US national defense strategy cites China as a top security concern, and Pentagon leers have been working to shift more resources and military assets to region to battle what y see is Beijing's growing ecomic influence and military might.

“ ability to be present in a strong way is part of competition. And as I always tell my guys here, you've got to be present to win when you're competing,” said Rear m. Stephen Koehler, director of operations at Indo-Pacific Command.

“Carriers and carrier strike groups writ large are phemenal symbols of American naval power. I really am pretty fired up that we've got three of m at moment.”

Speaking to Associated Press from his office in Hawaii, Koehler said China is slowly and methodically building up military outposts in South China Sea, putting missile and electronic warfare systems on m. US and or allies and partners in region have beefed up operations near human-me islands to try to blunt China's development, but ne of that has appeared to work.

Koehler said that most recently China deployed aircraft to Fiery Cross Reef in Spratly Islands and is w operating m out of re. On Thursday, strike group warships were spre out across Indo-Pacific. USS odore Roosevelt and its strike group are operating in Philippine Sea near Guam. USS Nimitz strike group is in Pacific off US West Coast. USS Ronald Reagan has left port in Japan and is operating in Philippine Sea south of re.

Navy commanders were quick to point out that dozens of or Navy ships h been operating around Pacific, but three strike groups put a bit of an exclamation point on America's commitment to region and its allies. Roosevelt has just returned to duty after spending more than two months sidelined in Guam with a massive COVID-19 outbreak among its crew. And small numbers of sailors on Nimitz and Reagan tested positive for virus, triggering quarantines and extensive new health and safety procedures that h to be instituted before ships could deploy.

As y deploy, sailors' daily lives on ships and to some degree ir operations at sea have been altered by virus and new precautions y must take to ensure ships remain clear of infection and able to continue operations. Onboard Nimitz, Rear m. Jim Kirk said re have been positive cases of virus on ship since it set out, and he is confident of all changes put in place to keep it that way.

On Nimitz and or Pacific ships, crew members are screened daily, y wear masks where needed, meal hours have been extended to allow for more social distancing, and specific routes are designated on ship to prevent sailors from bumping into one ar in narrow passways and stairs.

“As we he out to stand watch, mess that I have is that this is end of beginning” for crew, said Kirk, commander of Carrier Strike Group 11.

“w it's time to go about doing our job to best of our abilities.” Koehler said ships will continue to work with allies and partners in region, conducting exercises at sea and patrolling contested regions. One key change, however, will be ir ability to stop in foreign ports.