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US-China tensions in South China Sea fuelled by increase in military operations
- US aircraft have carried out 39 flights over waters near China – two of them close to Hong Kong – since start of the year, while navy has also ramped up its activity
- US defence secretary says he wants to boost investment in region
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The United States has ramped up its military operations in waters close to China this year as the risk of confrontation between the two nations continues to grow.
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So far this year, aircraft from the US armed forces have conducted 39 flights over the South China Sea, East China Sea, Yellow Sea and the Taiwan Strait – more than three times the number carried out in the equivalent period of 2019.
Two of the flights passed closed to Hong Kong, a rare move that indicated their proximity to mainland China.
Meanwhile, the US Navy conducted four freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea in the first four months of the year – compared with just eight for the whole of 2019 – with the latest on April 29, as guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill sailed through the Spratly Islands chain.
On Friday, the littoral combat ship USS Montgomery and cargo vessel USNS Cesar Chavez were also reported to be operating in the South China Sea.
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“Our forces fly, sail and operate in the international waters of the South China Sea at our discretion and in accordance with maritime norms and international law, showing the wide range of naval capability we have available in the Indo-Pacific,” said Fred Kacher, commander of Expeditionary Strike Group 7.
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