(Express) – The US ramped up its combat abilities in recent military exercises, sending its strongest signal yet to China that it is prepared to contest Beijing’s sovereignty claims over the South China Sea.
Military chiefs are developing plans to deploy troops on the ground to help multinational fleets target their missiles more accurately over longer distances. The moves are part of a broader US military strategy designed to counter Chinese attempts to assert its control over the disputed waters.
In February, the US Navy carried out drills involving the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier strike group. As part of the exercises, US Navy Seals were sent to establish forward bases to investigate intelligence provided by the strike group’s radars.
A researcher at the PLA Academy of Military Sciences warned that these ground troops could be used to gather extra information to help missile and airstrikes. Du Wenlong told China’s state TV channel CCTV: “If the Seals were deployed to an island, either from air or by boat, and to conduct various reconnaissance to locate targets, this information can help the strike group better attack targets and boost their strike precision.” READ MORE