- Nineteen prisoners use cutlery to break out of cells at Winchester prison
- France wants progress in Ukraine before Russia returns to G7
- Italy president begins talks to seek way out of government crisis
- Italian PM expected to resign as political chaos deepens
- Russia says US cruise missile test ‘regrettable’
- Kremlin - No date set for Normandy talks on Ukraine despite Macron meeting
- Egypt court hands out 6 death sentences on terror charges
- Putin says Russian nuclear explosion poses no threat
- Russian panel eyes alleged foreign interference in protests
- Gran Canaria wildfire triggers evacuation of thousands of people
- PM Johnson calls on Germany and France to compromise on Brexit
- Sudan's ex-president Bashir arrives at corruption trial
TEHRAN, Mar 06 -The US Air Force has flown a pair of strategic nuclear-capable B-52 bombers over the disputed waters near China, in a move that is expected to raise Beiing’s ire.
TEHRAN, Young Journalists Club (YJC) -“Two B-52H Stratofortress bombers took off from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, and participated in routine training missions, March 4, 2019,” a statement from US Pacific Air Forces, which oversees air operations in the region, said on Wednesday.
The statement added one of the long-range bombers conducted “training” in the vicinity of the South China Sea, which is almost entirely claimed by China and through which $5 trillion in shipping trade passes annually.
The South China Sea – which sits atop vast reserves of oil and gas -- is in part claimed in part by Taiwan, Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines.
The last time the US sent bombers through the South China Sea was in November 2018
The US military further said the second bomber went on a similar mission alongside the Japanese Air Force over the East China Sea, which has been the subject of a separate maritime dispute involving Beijing and Tokyo, among their other neighbors.
The US – which usually sides with Beijing’s rivals in the territorial rows -- claims the Pacific Command’s frequent aerial missions over the disputed islands of both seas are intended to ensure the readiness of US forces, and are in accordance with international law.
Besides its aerial missions, Washington also sends warships close to the islands claimed by China in what the US calls “freedom of navigation” patrols.
China, however, sees such flights and naval patrols as both clear provocations and a show of force challenging Beijing’s sovereignty in the region. It says such deployments could easily trigger miscalculation or even accidents at sea or in air.
Beijing has on numerous occasions warned the US against interfering in its territorial disputes with its neighbors.
The recent maneuvers could further escalate already tense relations between Washington and Beijing, which are currently locked in a trade dispute.
Source: presstv
Your Comment