The US is all set to carry out one of the biggest military drills in the South China Sea amid border tensions between India and China. The US Navy, for this purpose, has sent two aircraft carriers-- The USS Nimitz and USS Ronald Reagan and several warships to the South China Sea.
According to the US Navy, the exercises are to support a free Indo-Pacific region.
Last week, the US offered to move their troops from the European Union to bolster Indian troops in a stand-off against the Chinese forces at the Ladakh border.
The Pentagon and other nations have been critical of military drills carried out by China recently.
China and the United States have accused each other of stoking tension in the strategic waterway at a time of strained relations over everything from the new coronavirus to trade to Hong Kong.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on being said he moved US troops from EU nations to other places due to the Chinese threat to India and Southeast Asian nations. He said the actions of the ruling Chinese Communist Party meant there were “threats to India, threats to Vietnam, threats to Malaysia, Indonesia and the South China Sea challenge."
The US hasn't been specific as to whereabouts in the South China Sea will the military exercises take place. The sea extends to some 1,500 km and 90 per cent of it is claimed by China despite protests from neighbouring nations.
“The purpose is to show an unambiguous signal to our partners and allies that we are committed to regional security and stability,” Rear Admiral George M Wikoff was quoted as saying by the Wall Street Journal, which first reported the exercises. He added that the exercises were not a response to those being conducted by China.
