[The Epoch Times, January 20, 2022]In today’s society, the role of weapons and the military is given a deeper meaning than killing. A strong military force is often used as a deterrent to maintain world peace and human security. The war, although becoming hidden, never stopped.[Current Affairs and Military]Take you to the front to see the details and truth of the battle between good and evil.
On January 12, the U.S. State Department released a report, Ocean Limits No. 150, on the CCP’s claims in the South China Sea. Ocean Limits is a long-running legal and technical research series designed to analyze countries’ maritime claims and boundaries and assess their compliance with international law.
The report pointed out that the four archipelagos claimed by the CCP in the South China Sea, including the Dongsha Islands, the Xisha Islands, the Zhongsha Islands and the Nansha Islands, do not comply with the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The CCP has claimed sovereignty over more than 100 islands, reefs or tidal islands in the South China Sea that are not within the legal territorial waters of any country. It does not comply with international law and cannot create a maritime area of territorial sea nature.
The report pointed out that the CCP has drawn or claimed the right to draw a straight baseline to encircle the islands, waters and underwater features in the vast waters of the South China Sea. The four island groups claimed by the CCP in the South China Sea violate the UNCLOS geographic criteria for using a straight baseline, and there is no special customary international law that supports the CCP’s delineation of these island groups within a straight baseline. China claims historic rights in the South China Sea without specifying the nature or geographic scope of those historic rights.
The report concluded that China’s claim to sovereignty or some form of exclusive jurisdiction over much of the South China Sea is illegal. These claims seriously undermine the rule of law of the sea and the numerous generally accepted provisions of international law reflected in the Convention. The United States and many other countries reject these claims in favor of a rules-based international maritime order in the South China Sea and around the world.
With the release of this latest research report, the U.S. reiterates its call on China to comply with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), abide by the arbitral tribunal’s July 12, 2016 South China Sea arbitration ruling, and stop its Illegal and coercive activities in the South China Sea.
Just one day (11th) the day before the release of the report of the US State Department’s “Marine Limits” study on China’s illegal maritime claims, the US dispatched Carl R. USS Vinson (CVN 70) Carrier Strike Group (VINCSG) and USS Essex (USS CV-9) Amphibious Combat Readiness Group (ESX ARG) entered the highly contested South China Sea for exercises.
The Essex Amphibious Alert Group includes the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS O’Kane and USS Murphy. Essex provided air support from a number of Marines for the operation, including Marines 165th “White Knight” Squadron and Marines 214th “Black Sheep” Assault Squadron (VMA). White Knights operate MV-22B Osprey tiltrotors, UH-1Y Venom reconnaissance helicopters, AH-1Z Viper gunships and CH-53E Super Stallion transport helicopters, and Black Sheep operate AV-8B Harriers . Training operations include integrated maritime strike missions, maritime interception operations, anti-submarine warfare, maritime replenishment, and formation/navigation maneuvers. These operations are the latest form of mission to enhance naval readiness and interoperability in the Indo-Pacific.
U.S. Navy Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) Carrey. Captain Karrey Sanders said, with Karl. The integrated operations of the Vinson Carrier Strike Group demonstrate the U.S. Navy’s commitment to safeguarding stability in the Indo-Pacific not only through its combined expertise and experience, but also through the diverse capabilities of the U.S. Navy’s large deck platforms.
The Essex Amphibious Combat Readiness Group (ESX ARG) is the first amphibious combat group to operate with the Future Advanced Aviation Wing (CVW 2). The team is currently in Karl. The Vincennes are in service with F-35C Lightning II fighter jets operated by the 147th Argentine Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) and CMV-22B Osprey aircraft operated by the 30th Titan Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM).
Carl. The First Carrier Strike Group (CSG-1), led by the Vincent, included Carl. The aircraft carrier USS Vincent (CVN 70), the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain (CG 57), and the three Alleys of the 1st Destroyer Squadron. Burke-class guided-missile destroyer Michael. USS Murphy (DDG 112), USS O’Kane (DDG 77) and USS Chaffey (DDG 90). In addition, since last August, nine squadrons of the Future Advanced Aviation Wing have also been deployed in Karl. On the Vincent.
First Carrier Strike Group (CSG) commander Dan. Rear Admiral Dan Martin said their ability to quickly and effectively integrate with amphibious reserves, such as the ESX ARG, demonstrates the Navy’s diverse lethality that no other naval force has. Carl. The combination of the long-range strike capabilities of the USS Vinson Carrier Strike Group and the amphibious potential of the USS Essex to deliver Marine Corps payloads to any sea area greatly contributes to the U.S. strategy to defend a free and open Indo-Pacific ability.
Carl. USS Vinson is the U.S. Navy’s third Nimitz-class supercarrier. The ship was launched in 1980, made its maiden voyage in 1983, and was refueled and overhauled between 2005 and 2009. In October 2009, the US Navy announced that Carl. Vincent is the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 1 (CSG1), based in San Diego.
The exercise ended on January 16. However, the conclusion of the exercise did not cool down the military deployment in the Western Pacific. On the contrary, it attracted more attention from the outside world to the deployment of US Navy forces in the Indo-Pacific.
At present, in addition to Carl. In addition to the two aircraft carrier strike groups, the Vinson and Essex, there is also Abraham F., who departed from San Diego on January 3. The USS Lincoln (CVN-72) aircraft carrier strike group is also performing deployments in the Indo-Pacific region. In addition, at the Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan is also docked Ronald. The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) and the amphibious assault ship USS America (USS LHA-6) docked at Sasebo Naval Base, Japan.
In general, five aircraft carrier strike groups consisting of three Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and two amphibious assault ships have assembled in the waters surrounding China. The U.S. Navy is increasing its deployment in the South China Sea in response to China’s expansion in the South China Sea and rising tensions in the region.
Changes in the deployment of the US military can be seen from the number of US aircraft carrier strike groups entering the South China Sea. 5 in 2019, 6 in 2020, and 10 in 2021. This time Carl. Vincent and Essex completed a five-day joint exercise, two weeks ahead of last year’s naval deployment.
Since last year, the U.S. military’s operational route and operational time have undergone various changes. During this latest transit, Carl. The USS Vinson aircraft carrier strike group entered the South China Sea through the Balabac Strait, which seems to be a new countermeasure to the CCP’s anti-access strategy, reflecting the suddenness of the U.S. Navy’s possible use of geographical features to form tactical deployments. U.S. military training patterns have also become more complex and unpredictable. As can be seen from the trend of U.S. deployments, the U.S. Navy is responding to China’s anti-access/area denial strategy with more fleets and more frequent maritime operations.
Written by: Charlotte Shan (a reporter from The Epoch Times, who has lived in the military for more than ten years, mainly engaged in military teaching and some technical management work)
Production: Current Affairs Military Production Group
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Editor in charge: Lian Shuhua