US Navy Admiral George Wikoff hails Beijing as ‘cordial, professional’ in South China Sea
- Wikoff spoke aboard the the USS Ronald Reagan, headed for Singapore as part of freedom of navigation exercises meant to counter China’s growing military presence in the region
- China’s Ministry of Defence criticised the US for “flexing its muscles in the region” after the ships participated in war exercises this month
“They remain respectful in accordance with what we anticipate a professional would do, and we respond or initiate in kind when we believe that there is a situation,” said Wikoff aboard the USS Ronald Reagan on Wednesday, after taking over command of Task Force 70 two weeks ago.
“It has been very cordial, and I think they have been very professional is really what I’d like to emphasise on both sides.”
Sailing within waters China claims in its so-called “nine-dash line” off the coast of Malaysia, the US$4.5 billion supercarrier was accompanied by one destroyer and two cruisers. It was headed for Singapore as part of freedom of navigation exercises meant to counter China’s growing military presence in the region at a time when both countries are embroiled in a global trade war.
The US has challenged China’s territorial claims with regular freedom of navigation missions since 2015. The most recent came last month when a guided-missile destroyer, the USS Wayne E. Meyer, passed near the Paracel Islands, which are claimed by China, Vietnam and Taiwan.