U.S. Navy Proposing Major Exercises Aimed at China

"The U.S. Navy is considering a major flexing of fleet muscles designed to send a message to China. The show of force, reported by CNN, would involve ships and aircraft operating in China’s backyard, in a demonstration to the Beijing that the U.S. is prepared to operate wherever it is legally allowed to do so. Planning for the “show of force” coincides with last weekend’s “unsafe and unprofessional” intercept of a U.S. Navy destroyer in the South China Sea.

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According to CNN, the goal of the exercises would be to “carry out a highly focused and concentrated set of exercises involving US warships, combat aircraft and troops to demonstrate that the US can counter potential adversaries quickly on several fronts.” The exercises would see U.S. forces operating in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait, “in freedom of navigation operations to demonstrate the right of free passage in international waters.”

The operation, which has already been given a code name, would involve several missions squeezed into just a few days. It would take place during a single week in November. The Pentagon and U.S. Pacific Fleet refused to comment to CNN on the potential operation..."

at  https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/navy-ships/a23601914/us-navy-proposing-major-exercises-aimed-at-china/