Vice Admiral Karl Thomas, the commander of the US Seventh Fleet, has vowed to push back against Beijing’s alleged aggression in the South China Sea. In a recent response to a confrontation between Chinese and Philippine ships in the area, Thomas assured the Philippines of US support in countering China’s “aggressive behavior”. He emphasized the shared challenges faced by the US and its Philippine ally and stated that his forces were deployed in the region for a reason.
Thomas’s remarks came approximately three weeks after an incident in which the Chinese Coast Guard used water cannons against Philippine vessels attempting to resupply a warship grounded on a disputed South China Sea shoal since 1999. The resupply mission was eventually completed on Tuesday, delivering food and other supplies to troops stationed on the old transport ship named Sierra Madre.
During his visit, Thomas held talks with Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos, the head of the Philippine Western Command responsible for Manila’s South China Sea interests. The US commander expressed the importance of understanding each other’s operations and ensuring that the Philippines was aware of the resources available to support them.
The US Seventh Fleet, based in Japan, has a vast area of operations spanning over 124 million square kilometers in the Western Pacific. It consists of approximately 60 ships and submarines, 140 aircraft, and around 20,000 sailors. The fleet’s operational zone encompasses half of the world’s population and the five largest military powers outside of the US, including Russia and China.
Tensions between the Philippines and China have been on the rise since Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assumed office as president of the Philippines. Marcos has strengthened defense ties with the US and asserted his country’s territorial claims in the South China Sea. The Philippines, for example, placed navigational buoys around the Spratly Islands in May, asserting sovereignty over an area which Beijing claims.
Chinese officials have warned that the Philippines’ increased military cooperation with the US could lead to geopolitical conflicts and jeopardize the country’s security. Both China and the US have accused each other of military provocations in the South China Sea.
As the US continues to challenge Beijing’s actions in the South China Sea, the situation remains highly volatile. The US Seventh Fleet’s commitment to push back against China’s alleged aggression serves as a notable example of the escalating tensions in the region. The international community will closely monitor how the US, China, and other countries involved navigate these complex disputes to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.
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