US replies to Chinese threat against US deployment in South China Sea

Washington/Beijing: – The increasing US deployment in the South China Sea has become a major irritant for China. While two US aircraft carriers are holding war exercises in the South China Sea, the Chinese mouthpiece has threatened that Chinese missiles are ready to target them. The United States has replied to this threat retorting that our aircraft carriers are still holding war exercises in the same region, despite the Chinese warning. While the Chinese tone is becoming shriller, the United Kingdom and Australia, the leading US allies, have indicated increasing deployment in the Indo-Pacific region.

Last week, the Chinese navy started war exercises in the Paracel Islands region, in the South China Sea. At the same time, the United States dispatched two of its gigantic aircraft carriers, along with other warships, to the same region. China had announced that the war exercises would continue till Sunday. The United States announced that the practices would start on Saturday. This is the first instance, in last so many years, that the United States and China are holding war exercises, in the same region at the same time. Analysts even warned that the smallest accident could culminate into conflict, given the tension reigning between the two countries.

The threat issued by the Chinese mouthpiece, Global Times, against this background, attracts attention. Global Times threatened that the South China Sea region is within easy reach of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Any US aircraft carrier sailing in the South China Sea is a pleasure for the PLA. The Chinese military has advanced missiles like the DF-21D and DF-26, capable of sinking the aircraft carriers.

The US navy immediately replied to the Global Times’ threat. The US navy retorted in precise words that two of their aircraft carriers are sailing in the South China Sea. USS Nimitz and USS Ronald Reagan will not be scared by these threats. The US aircraft carriers are stationed in the South China Sea since the last two months, and they have even conducted joint war exercises with the Japanese and Australian navy. The United States has repeatedly clarified that the objective of this deployment and practices is freedom of marine movement and reassuring the countries in the region.

Meanwhile, amid the rising tension between the United States and China, US allies, the United Kingdom and Australia have indicated increasing their deployment in the region of Chinese influence. A few days ago, the British defence department held an important meeting. All three defence chiefs were present for the meeting. Indications of increasing the British military deployment in the Asian region were given during the meeting. A sharp reaction has been received from China on the decision, and the Chinese media has asked the United Kingdom if it wanted to spark the Opium War once again. The long-drawn conflict between the United Kingdom and the Chinese empire, over narcotics trade, in the 19th century is known as the Opium War.

The United States had held China responsible for the Coronavirus pandemic and had warned of dire consequences. But to show that the US warning has had little or no effect, China is demonstrating its naval might in the Asia-Pacific region. The Chinese navy has started aggressive actions against Vietnam, Philippines and Taiwan. Against this background, the new developments indicate that the United States and its allies have made strong preparations to retaliate against China.