Military expert praises recent US Navy exercises near Philippines
US carrier group operations in Philippines Sea strengthen combat readiness, counter Chinese threats
By Kelvin Chen, Taiwan News, Staff Writer
2020/07/09 16:10
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The U.S. Navy 7th Fleet announced Wednesday (July 8) that two ships entered the South China Sea after conducting military exercises near the Philippines.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Seventh Fleet posted an image on Facebook, pointing out the aircraft carriers, USS Nimitz and USS Ronald Reagan, and their strike groups entered the South China Sea from the Philippine Sea via the San Bernardino Strait.
Military expert Chi Le-yi (亓樂義), who specializes in researching China’s People Liberation’s Army (PLA), told CNA that Chinese Xian H-6 bombers have crossed the first island chain in March 2015 and have since gradually reached the Philippine Sea, about 1,500 kilometers away from Guam. This happens to be the effective range of the H-6 bombers equipped with the Long Sword 20 (é•·åŠ) long-range cruise missile, which constitutes a threat for the U.S. island territory, he said.
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3963270
