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Thayer, South China Sea USS Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group
Thayer, South China Sea USS Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group
Thayer, South China Sea USS Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group
freedom of navigation or overflight in the South China Sea. The United States will
uphold freedom of navigation and overflight by continuing to fly, sail, and operate
wherever international law allows. If a contingency occurs, the United States and
its allies and partners must be capable of limiting China's access to and use of its
artificial islands to pose a threat to the United States or its allies and partners. The
United States must be willing to accept risk if it is to deter further destabilizing
actions and reassure allies and partners that the United States will stand with them
in upholding international rules and norms. If confirmed, I would look forward to
working with interagency partners to develop a whole-of-government approach to
deter further Chinese coercion and land reclamation as well as challenges to
freedom of navigation or overflight in the South China Sea.[1]
In other words,Tillerson backed off from his earlier comments that the U.S. should
block Chinas access to its artificial islands. He added this important clarification, If a
contingency occurs, the United States and its allies and partners must be capable of
limiting China's access to and use of its artificial islands to pose a threat to the United
States or its allies and partners (emphasis added).
On 4 February, James Mattis, speaking in Tokyo at the conclusion of his first overseas
visit as Defense Secretary, stated, What we have to do is exhaust all efforts,
diplomatic efforts, to try and resolve this [South China Sea dispute] properly. Our
military stance should be one that reinforces our diplomats At this time we do not
see any need for dramatic military moves at all.
Q3. How does China appear to be reacting to all this? They have continued to build
installations, have made a few comments. But do you see a more defensive policy, or
is it business as usual?
ANSWER: China responded to the Award by the Arbitral Tribunal that heard the claims
brought by the Philippines against China by building reinforced hangars on each of its
three airstrips on artificial islands. Each of the three artificial island is capable to
housing 24 top of the line jet fighters plus four larger aircraft such as tankers, Airborne
Warning and Control, and nuclear capable bombers. Then China installed Close in
Weapon Systems (a modern form of Gattling gun designed to shoot down low flying
cruise missiles) and anti-aircraft guns on all seven of its artificial islands. The Philippine
Defence Minister Delfin Lorenzana stated on February 7in interview with AFP, he
expects China to build on Scarborough Shoal, If unopposed, China would likely
attempt to build an installation like the several bases Beijing has constructed in the
Spratly Island chain to the south of Scarborough. If we allow them, they will build.
Thats very, very disturbing. Very much (more) disturbing than Fiery Cross because this
is so close to us.
China has issued a series of comments intended to dissuade the Trump Administration
from interfering in the South China Sea by conducing further freedom of navigation
operational patrols and deploying Carrier Strike Groups. President Xi Jinping, in his
New Years address stated, Chinese people will never allow anyone to get away with
[1]
Rex Tillersons written responses to questions from Senator Ben Cardin, Ranking Member, undated,
https://www.desmogblog.com/sites/beta.desmogblog.com/files/Ben%20Cardin%20Questions%20Tiller
son.pdf
3
making a great fuss about it. China has also announced that it is considering
amending its Maritime Traffic Safety Law (1984) to restrict foreign vessels in Chinese
territorial waters, thus challenging the regime of innocent passage in the United
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Although these amendments are
reportedly not due to take effect until 2020 they would be a major challenge to
present U.S. naval operations.
China has responded critically to reports that the United States is about to conduct
further freedom of navigation operational patrols. A Chinese government
spokesperson said on 15 February, We urge the US not to take any actions that
challenge Chinas sovereignty and security.
So far it has been business as usual but this time the Trump Administration adds a
new level of uncertainty about what risks it will take.
Suggested citation: Carlyle A. Thayer, South China Sea: USS Carl Vinson Carrier Strike
Group, Thayer Consultancy Background Brief, February 20, 2017. All background
briefs are posted on Scribd.com (search for Thayer). To remove yourself from the
mailing list type, UNSUBSCRIBE in the Subject heading and hit the Reply key.
Thayer Consultancy provides political analysis of current regional security issues and
other research support to selected clients. Thayer Consultancy was officially
registered as a small business in Australia in 2002.