The reason for the provocation of the Philippines has been found! The U.S. Seventh Fleet sent a twin aircraft carrier strike group and Japan's quasi-aircraft carrier "Ise" to hold a joint military exercise in the Philippine Sea on January 31 to demonstrate to China!
With the backing of the United States and Japan, it is no wonder that the Philippines has recently launched repeated provocations on the issue of Ren'ai Jiao and Scarborough Shoal.
According to a briefing issued today by the US Navy's Seventh Fleet Command, from 29 January to 1 February, the USS Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group, the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group, and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force's USS Ise *** aircraft carrier formed a joint ship formation to conduct a large-scale joint naval exercise in the Philippine Sea!
The 7th Fleet briefing said: The exercise provides an opportunity for U.S. and Japanese maritime forces to participate in joint operations, including enhanced maritime communications operations, air combat operations, and cross-deck flight operations to enhance integrated maritime operations and combat readiness.
Since early January, the U.S. military has successively deployed three carrier strike groups in the waters east of Taiwan in the western Pacific, including: USS Carl Vinson, USS Theodore Roosevelt and USS Ronald Reagan!
The Seventh Fleet's briefing also said that coordinating maritime operations and operations in the Philippine Sea is part of the U.S. Navy's routine presence in the Indo-Pacific. The U.S. Navy works with our partners and allies to ensure maritime safety and unhindered access in the region!
Rear Admiral Alexander Alexander and commander of the U.S. Carrier Strike Group 9, who participated in the joint exercise, said: "The Ninth Carrier Strike Group is proud to operate in conjunction with the USS Carl Vinson and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Being able to conduct such complex operations on an ongoing basis is a testament to the fact that the U.S. Navy can operate at a time and place of our choosing, providing our country and allies with flexible deterrence and defense options!
Subsequently, the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force said through the social ** platform: This is the first training exercise with two aircraft carriers of the US Navy since November last year. The Maritime Self-Defense Force will continue to strengthen the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. alliance and contribute to the maintenance and strengthening of regional peace and stability and maritime order.
Obviously, with the support of the United States and Japan, the Philippines will be more emboldened to challenge China's maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea!