Asia-Pacific

US aircraft carrier enters South China Sea amid Taiwan tensions

Beijing has warned of ‘consequences’ over potential Taiwan visit by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi

Fighters on the flight deck of the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier, which has entered the South China Sea. File photograph: EPA/Yonhap

Thu Jul 28 2022 - 07:27

A US aircraft carrier and strike group have entered the South China Sea as part of what the 7th Fleet said was a scheduled operation amid rising tensions with China over a potential Taiwan visit by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The USS Ronald Reagan, a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered supercarrier, made its way to the disputed waters following a five-day port call to Singapore, departing Changi Naval Base on Tuesday.

Although the 7th Fleet declined to say where the carrier was heading following its first trip to the city-state since 2019, it had already been conducting maritime security operations in the South China Sea before its arrival, having left for its annual spring patrol in May from Yokosuka, Japan, where it is based.

The trip follows remarks this week by China’s foreign ministry spokesman Beijing was getting “seriously prepared” for the possibility that Ms Pelosi could visit Taiwan, a self-governing island that China considers part of its territory.

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China has increased up military activity around Taiwan to signal its displeasure with past high-profile visits.

President Joe Biden is set to speak with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Thursday amid the fresh tensions over Taiwan, according to sources. Mr Biden told reporters last week that the US military did not think Ms Pelosi’s trip was a good idea, prompting consternation in Taiwan.

Beijing views trips by politicians to Taiwan as undermining the “one China” policy that the United States has had since it normalised relations with Beijing in 1979. Under the policy, Washington recognises Beijing as the sole government of China but only acknowledges Beijing’s position that Taiwan is part of China.

China is particularly concerned about Ms Pelosi’s visit because she is second in succession to the presidency. She would also be the most senior US legislators to visit Taiwan since Newt Gingrich, then the Republican speaker of the House, in 1997. China has warned that a visit by Ms Pelosi would have “consequences”. — Agencies

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