US flexes military muscle in South China Sea with nuclear aircraft carrier port call in the Philippines
- Washington and Manila use visit to bang drum for community and military ties
- Analyst expects stopover to prompt show of military might from Beijing
The United States has sent its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan to the Philippines to show its commitment to an ally and in a display of military might aimed at checking China’s expansion in the South China Sea.
The Ronald Reagan and its battle group – about 7,500 personnel, two guided missile cruisers, a squadron of at least two destroyers or frigates and a complement of 65-70 aircraft – arrived in Manila on Wednesday.
The American port call highlighted “the strong community and military connections between the Philippines and the United States”, the US Navy said.
Sung Yong Kim, US ambassador to the Philippines, said the stopover showed Washington’s strong commitment to the Indo-Pacific region.
“This visit is a great representation of our strong friendship, partnership and alliance with the Philippines, as well as a testament to our joint commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region,” he said.