US Air Force ramps up flyovers near China in sign of rising tension and risk of conflict between world powers
- B-1B Lancer bomber flyovers accompany US Navy and Air Force operations in region
- South China Sea grows ‘tense and turbulent’ with military actions linked to political and diplomatic issues, says analyst
The United States Air Force has ramped up flyovers of B-1B Lancer bombers over waters near China amid growing bitterness between the two powers on all fronts.
In the latest announcement, the US Pacific Air Forces said on Twitter on Tuesday that B-1 bombers conducted a mission in the South China Sea, just days after training with the US Navy near Hawaii, “demonstrating the credibility of US air forces to address a diverse and uncertain security environment”.
The blame game has caused rifts in an already strained relationship, affecting a range of activities, including journalism, trade, technology and the military.
The US Air Force deployed four B-1B bombers and about 200 airmen from Texas to the Andersen Air Force Base in Guam on May 1, saying the mission was to support Pacific Air Forces and to conduct training and operations with allies and partners.
Li Jie, a military specialist based in Beijing, said the deployments showed that the US was trying to keep up strategic deterrence, with the US Air Force conducting 11 flights in March and 13 in April over the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea.