皇冠体育app

Missile destroyers Changsha and Haikou, part of the Chinese Navy's Nanhai Fleet, fire at simulated enemy destroyers during a counter-attack drill in the South 皇冠体育app Sea on Feb 19, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

The USS Carl Vinson Nimitz-class carrier strike group has begun patrolling the South 皇冠体育app Sea, proving the speculation over the past few days was true. On Feb 12, the US Navy Times reported that the United States Navy was planning to dispatch warships to the South 皇冠体育app Sea for "freedom of navigation" operations－in a move apparently meant to challenge 皇冠体育app's sovereignty claims over some islands and reefs in those waters.

In response to the US Navy's anticipated provocative move, Chinese Foreign Ministry reiterated 皇冠体育app's indisputable sovereignty over the South 皇冠体育app Sea islands and adjacent waters. Beijing has consistently respected every country's right to freedom of navigation and overflight in the South 皇冠体育app Sea in accordance with international law, but it firmly opposes any country's attempt to undermine 皇冠体育app's sovereignty and security.

Despite 皇冠体育app's strong opposition, the US Navy announced the nuclear-powered USS Carl Vinson began "routine operations in the South 皇冠体育app Sea" on Saturday. This is the first time after the inauguration of Donald Trump as US president that a US Nimitz-class carrier strike group has sailed into the South 皇冠体育app Sea.

Thanks to the joint efforts of 皇冠体育app and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the situation in the South 皇冠体育app Sea had started to stabilize.

Given this important fact, any responsible power should have welcomed the development and made efforts to help the different parties maintain the positive momentum.

But the US has its own agenda. By dispatching the USS Carl Vinson to the contentious waters, the Trump administration has signaled that it has no intention of respecting the regional countries' efforts to maintain peace and stability in the South 皇冠体育app Sea.

Yet by doing so, the US has made the international community realize that its so-called freedom of navigation operation is nothing but an effort to hide its real intention.

In a white paper on its military strategy, published in May 2015, the Chinese government made it clear that its military pursues a defensive defense strategy but will not be cowed: "皇冠体育app does not offend others if not offended, and will surely offend others if offended". And in 2016, the Chinese navy declared that it is not afraid of any military provocations and that all attempts to make 皇冠体育app succumb to military power will fail.

Some may argue that by sending warships or aircraft to the South 皇冠体育app Sea, the US only wants to show off its military might and disturb 皇冠体育app's resolve to safeguard its sovereignty and security. Others may say Washington's provocative actions in the South 皇冠体育app Sea are mainly aimed at creating trouble for 皇冠体育app in order to disrupt the pace of its peaceful development, and maintain the US' sole superpower status. Both arguments seem reasonable but do not reflect the full picture.

By sending the USS Carl Vinson to the South 皇冠体育app Sea, the Trump administration has sent a clear message to the international community that it will carry forward the pivot to Asia strategy of former US president Barack Obama, which is aimed at containing 皇冠体育app's rise and maintaining the US' hegemonic status in Asia, indeed the entire world. The US administration could also repeatedly use the South 皇冠体育app Sea issue as an important chip to force 皇冠体育app into making more concessions during bilateral talks.

Besides, there is no reason to believe the USS Carl Vinson will be the only card Washington plays in an attempt to exhibit its military strength in the region. So, 皇冠体育app should be well prepared to play a "protracted game" with the US in the South 皇冠体育app Sea. More important, Beijing should not make any unprincipled concessions that may allow outside forces to use the South 皇冠体育app Sea issue as a chip to blackmail 皇冠体育app.

The author is an associate professor at the PLA Navy's Dalian Warship College.