Four US warships, including an aircraft carrier, have been deployed in waters east of Taiwan ahead of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s upcoming visit to the island.
The USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier sailed through the South China Sea and is now in the Philippine Sea, east of Taiwan, a US Navy official confirmed to Reuters.
The Japan-based Reagan is operating alongside a guided-missile cruiser, the USS Antietam, and a destroyer, the USS Higgins.
“These are normal routine missions,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The official added that he was unable to provide the exact positions of the US ships.
The same official said the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli was also in the area.
Pelosi is expected to arrive in Taipei today as the United States says it will not be deterred by Chinese warnings.
Confirmation of the US warship deployment comes as signs of military activity on both sides of the Taiwan Strait emerge.
Several Chinese Air Force fighter jets flew close to the imaginary line in the middle of the Taiwan Strait, a source briefed on the matter told Reuters.
Meanwhile, Chinese warships have been near the informal neutral zone in the strait since Monday. The Taiwanese government has deployed military aircraft to the area to monitor the situation.
China’s defense and foreign ministries did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Taiwan’s defense ministry said on Tuesday it is fully aware of military activities near the island and will send appropriate forces in response to “hostile threats” as tensions with China escalate.
In the southeastern Chinese city of Xiamen, which is across the street from Taiwan and hosts a large military presence, residents reported seeing the movement of armored vehicles and posted photos online. The photos have not yet been verified by Reuters.
Some regional military analysts say increased deployments at a time of tension increase the risk of casualties, even if neither side wants an actual conflict.
Source: Capital
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