U.S. naval vessels in West Pacific to maintain regional peace: MND
ROC Central News Agency
2018/11/19 12:18:40
Taipei, Nov. 19 (CNA) The United States has sent two aircraft carriers to the West Pacific as part of its Indo Pacific strategy and to maintain regional peace, Taiwan's Minister of National Defense Yen De-fa (嚴德發) said Monday.
Asked to comment on the ongoing operations of the USS John C. Stennis and USS Ronald Reagan in the West Pacific, Yen said the American aircraft carriers are in the region in a concrete display of U.S. President Donald Trump's Indo-Pacific strategy.
The ongoing demonstration of U.S.' military strength is also meant to maintain peace and stability in the Pacific region, he told reporters on the sidelines of a Legislative hearing session.
Yen said the presence of the warships in the West Pacific was unrelated to Taiwan's Nov. 24 local government elections.
The Taiwan military fully respects the freedom of navigation principles being defended by the U.S. and is keeping close tabs on the movements of the two nuclear-powered aircraft carriers at the moment, he said.
The USS Ronald Reagan is now near the Balintang Channel off the Northern Philippines, while the USS John C. Stennis is in the Philippine Sea, according to Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND).
The two carrier strike groups were recently conducting high-end dual carrier operations in the Philippine Sea, according to a press release issued by the U.S. 7th Fleet on Nov. 14.
"Bringing two carrier strike groups together provides unparalleled naval combat power, tremendous operational flexibility and reach across the region," Vice Adm. Phil Sawyer, commander of the U.S. 7th Fleet, was quoted as saying in the press release.
"It shows our forces at their best, operating confidently at sea, and demonstrates that the U.S. Navy will fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows," Sawyer said.
(By Matt Yu and Joseph Yeh)
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