Navy Commander Calls for Action: U.S. Seventh Fleet Challenges China's Aggressive Acts in South China Sea
China's aggressive behavior in the South China Sea, including the use of water cannons against a Philippine vessel, is being scrutinized by the commander of the U.S. Seventh Fleet. The incident highlights the ongoing dominance struggle between the U.S. and China in the region.
China's aggressive behavior in the South China Sea, particularly its use of water cannons against a Philippine vessel, has come under scrutiny from the commander of the U.S. Navy's Seventh Fleet. Vice Admiral Karl Thomas emphasized the need to challenge and check China's actions in the region, stating that "My forces are out here for a reason." The Seventh Fleet, which is the largest of the U.S. Navy's forward-deployed fleets, operates with approximately 70 ships, 150 aircraft, and over 27,000 sailors. Vice Admiral Thomas stressed the importance of pushing back against aggressors operating in a gray zone.
The specific incident that highlighted China's aggressive behavior occurred on August 5, when a Chinese coast guard ship used water cannon against a Philippine boat carrying supplies to troops aboard a warship that Manila intentionally grounded on a shoal in the South China Sea. This incident exemplifies the constant struggle for dominance between the U.S. and China in the region. The Philippines, which won an international arbitration award against China in 2016, has been one of the most vocal challengers to China's sweeping claim of sovereignty over the South China Sea.
Vice Admiral Thomas also met with Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos, the head of the Philippine Western Command overseeing the South China Sea, to gain a better understanding of the challenges faced by the Philippines and to explore opportunities for assistance. The U.S. and the Philippines share common challenges in the region, and Vice Admiral Thomas wanted to ensure that Vice Admiral Carlos was aware of the support available from the U.S. forces. China's claim of historic sovereignty in the South China Sea has led to the construction of militarized artificial islands, which has escalated tensions with neighboring countries whose exclusive economic zones overlap with China's claims.
The U.S. and other nations have consistently pushed back against China's territorial claims, asserting that they have no legal basis. As the U.S. Navy's Seventh Fleet continues to operate in the region, it remains committed to challenging and checking China's aggressive behavior in the South China Sea.
