Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 11 april 2018

U.S. carrier sails in disputed sea as China shows own force

By JIM GOMEZ said. The Philippine ambas-
ABOARD THE USS THEODORE sador to Beijing, Chito Sta.
ROOSEVELT, South China Romana, recently warned
Sea (AP) — — As fighter that the risks of a miscalcu-
jets streaked overhead, a lation and armed conflict
U.S. aircraft carrier sailed have risen in the disputed
through the South China region with a militarily stron-
Sea on Tuesday in the latest ger China now able to
display of America's military challenge the U.S.
might after China built a Sta. Romana compared
string of islands with military the two powers to ele-
facilities to assert its claims phants fighting and tram-
in the strategic waters, pling on the grass and said,
sparking regional alarm. "What we don't want is for
The U.S. Navy flew a small us to be the grass."
group of Philippine gener- Philippine President Ro-
als, officials and journal- drigo Duterte's policy of
ists to the USS Theodore befriending China has
Roosevelt, where fighter worked, Sta. Romana said,
jets landed and took off citing Beijing's decision to
by catapult with thunder- lift its blockade around
ous blasts. The nuclear- Philippine-occupied Sec-
powered carrier, and its ond Thomas Shoal. China
65 supersonic F18 jets, spy also allowed Filipino fisher-
planes and helicopters, men back into disputed
was en route to Manila. Scarborough Shoal after
Recent U.S. deployments Duterte visited Beijing and
of aircraft carriers, backed raised the issue with Chi-
by destroyers, to perform nese President Xi Jinping in
freedom of navigation ex- 2016.
ercises to Beijing's territo- Despite such fears and
rial claims are reassuring occasional exchanges of
allies but also prompting rhetoric, U.S. Rear Admiral
concerns with China's own Steve Koehler told report-
show of force in the busy ers on board the Roosevelt
waterway. that it has been smooth sail-
"It's a showcase of the ca- ing so far, with U.S., Chinese
pability of the U.S. armed and other forces engaging
forces not only by sea but each other professionally.
also by air," Philippine army "I haven't seen any danger-
Lt. Gen. Rolando Bautista Rear Admiral Steve Koehler, commander CSG-9 of the U.S. aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, ous interaction," Koehler
said after joining a tour of briefs top Philippine generals Tuesday, April 10,2018 in international waters off South China Sea. said, adding that problems
the 97,000-ton carrier. Associated Press could be avoided "if all the
"The Americans are our navies are operating in ac-
friends. In one way or an- cupied in 1995. Washington to stay away. away as Australia, along cordance with the interna-
other, they can help us Another U.S. carrier, the Beijing has also reportedly with Russian-made Su-35 tional norm and law."
to deter any threat," Bau- USS Carl Vinson, patrolled been holding large-scale fighters. Washington stakes no
tista said, adding that the the contested waters last naval exercises in the area "What we see now is a claims in the territorial dis-
American military presence month, taking part in anti- featuring its only operating show of force and a coun- putes but has declared
helps secure vulnerable submarine drills in the South aircraft carrier, while its air ter show of force in the that their peaceful resolu-
Philippine waters. China Sea with Japanese force says it recently sent South China Sea," said Roilo tion and the maintenance
At least twice this year, the forces and visiting Vietnam some of its most advanced Golez, a former Philippine of freedom of navigation
U.S. Navy has deployed with its 5,000-strong crew, fighters and bombers for national security adviser are in its national interest.
destroyers in freedom of the largest such U.S. mili- "joint combat patrols" over and congressman. American officials have
navigation sail-bys near tary presence there since the sea. While the moves could in- said U.S. Navy ships will
Chinese-occupied Scar- the Vietnam War ended in Those included H-6K long- crease the risks of miscal- continue sailing close to
borough Shoal, which 1975. range strategic bomb- culation and accidental Chinese-occupied areas
Beijing wrestled from the China has protested those ers that carry DH-20 long- clashes, Washington's su- without prior notice, plac-
Philippines in 2012, and Ma- moves, calling it U.S. med- range land-attack cruise perior naval power could ing Washington in a con-
nila-claimed Mischief Reef, dling in an Asian conflict, missiles, giving them the serve as deterrence to tinuing collision course with
which Chinese forces oc- and renewed warnings to ability to hit targets as far Chinese aggression, Golez China's interests.q