The U.S. military dispatched an aircraft carrier battle group to participate in the U.S.-Philippine patrol in the South China Sea
The Philippines and the United States began a two-day joint patrol in the South China Sea, and the second patrol is a major step forward in the Philippine-U.S. alliance and interoperability.
January 3-4 was another operation in nearly two months, and the United States mobilized more resources to show its power at China's maritime borders.
For the first time, the United States used aircraft carriers, cruisers, two destroyers, and several military aircraft on patrols.
It was accompanied by four Philippine military aircraft, multi-target helicopters and anti-submarine helicopters.
This is clearly a direct provocation against China, to which the PLA has resolutely fought back.
It is reported that when the Philippines and the United States began joint patrols, the PLA Southern Theater mobilized the air force and navy to conduct routine patrols in the South China Sea at the same time.
The Chinese Navy dispatched a large number of ships and warplanes to conduct joint patrols
Although this is the second joint patrol of the year, this time the United States and the Philippines have set a new record for the number of ships participating in the patrol.
According to the Philippine Department of National Defense, the Philippine military used four Philippine Navy ships, a search and rescue helicopter and an anti-submarine helicopter;
The United States also dispatched four naval warships — an aircraft carrier, a cruiser, two destroyers, and several combat aircraft.
Specifically, the ships participating in the exercise are the USS CVN-70 "Carl Vinson", the CG-59 cruiser USS Princeton, the DDG-100 USS Kidd and the DDG-104 USS Streeter.
The Philippine Navy participated in the exercise of the USS Del Pilar, USS Ekaraz and USS Sudavao dockyard landing ship.
The U.S. aircraft carrier battle group saw patrols make the situation very serious
It seems that the joint patrol formation of the United States and the Philippines is not small, especially the direct participation of the US Navy's aircraft carriers, which will indeed exert great pressure on China.
However, the Chinese Navy's southern theater of operations also conducted a routine two-day patrol in a-for-tat manner.
It is reported that in response to the Philippine patrol fleet, the Chinese Navy dispatched the 052D missile destroyer "Hefei" and the 054A frigate "Huangshan".
Accompanied the Philippine Navy patrol ship on its way to rendezvous with U.S. Navy ships on a joint patrol.
As for the US Navy's aircraft carrier battle group, although the Chinese Navy has not made an official announcement, it believes that the scale of the battle must be larger.
It is said to be a "three-dimensional" cruise of "organizing a joint three-dimensional of naval and air forces", which obviously includes the power to strike aircraft carriers, such as the 055 ship and the H-6K, which have a variety of platforms that carry anti-aircraft carrier missiles.
Some analysts have pointed out that the Chinese Navy and Air Force jointly organized combat patrols in the South China Sea, which is a planned activity, which means that the PLA began to seriously consider actively responding after the first patrol of the United States and the Philippines.
China launched the 055 ship, which is the most powerful aircraft carrier, to participate in the patrol
At the same time, after tensions between China and the Philippines in the Spratly waters intensified again, China has publicly stated that it will not turn a blind eye to the Philippines' repeated "provocations and approaches".
More likely, the participation of the Chinese Navy and Air Force in the patrol could increase diplomatic warnings that the Philippines should not enter the South China Sea.
This move means that if the Philippines dares to enter the islands and reefs in the South China Sea controlled by China with the support of the United States, the PLA will resolutely fight back.
It is tantamount to a stern warning that the Philippines must weigh the possible consequences of creating hot spots in the South China Sea.
Obviously, without the encouragement and direct support of the United States, the Philippines may not have carried out provocations.
For China, the South China Sea, which is close at hand, must be resolutely defended
Under the guise of helping the Philippines consolidate security, the United States is exerting political and military pressure on China, one of the tools of which is to hold joint patrols in the South China Sea.
Compared with past actions, the Philippines now has changed in its attempt to conduct larger military operations in areas close to the South China Sea or the Taiwan Strait, including frequent military exercises and joint patrols with the United States and Japan.
And this also means that the scope of military cooperation between the United States and the Philippines is expanding.
Therefore, China must issue a stern warning to the Philippines and the United States, and now assume that it will not hesitate to fight.
It is intended to make the United States and the Philippines rein in, otherwise China will resolutely defend its rights!
(Military commentary by Chen Guangwen on 2024.01.05)