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South China Sea
ChinaDiplomacy

South China Sea: US bolsters presence with amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island

  • Ship’s visit highlights Washington’s obligation towards the Philippines, analyst says, with Manila in dispute with China over Whitsun Reef
  • The transit follows both China and the US sailing aircraft carriers into the contested waters

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The USS Makin Island entered the South China Sea late on Wednesday. Photo: Twitter
Sarah ZhengandMinnie Chan
The United States has further stepped up its military presence in the South China Sea, reportedly sending an amphibious assault vessel to the disputed waters amid heightened tensions in the region.
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Satellite data showed that the USS Makin Island amphibious-ready group (ARG) travelled through the Strait of Malacca into the contentious waters from late on Wednesday until the early hours of Thursday, according to the Beijing-based South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative (SCSPI). The group included amphibious assault ship the USS Makin Island and the amphibious transport dock USS San Diego, the think tank said.

Sailors on the USS Makin Island were conducting “a live-fire training exercise”, the US Indo-Pacific Command tweeted on Thursday, along with a hashtag calling for a “free and open Indo-Pacific”.

02:37

Philippines sounds alarm over 200 Chinese ships in the South China Sea

Philippines sounds alarm over 200 Chinese ships in the South China Sea
This latest passage by a US amphibious assault ship comes at a time when both China and the US have sailed aircraft carriers into the South China Sea, with the US’ Theodore Roosevelt conducting exercises with Malaysia on Tuesday and Wednesday, and China’s Liaoning en route from the Miyako Strait off southwestern Japan to conduct “scheduled exercises” near Taiwan.
Analysts say the US naval presence in waters neighbouring China is a signal from US President Joe Biden’s administration to its allies in the region and to Beijing that it is committed to maintaining a military presence in the region to counter China. Beijing had hoped relations with Washington would improve after former US president Donald Trump left office, but there have not been noticeable changes in US military activities in the Indo-Pacific under Biden.

“Since China-US relations are relatively tense, the US is putting more of its military capacity near China,” said Chinese military commentator Song Zhongping. “Its transitioning to the South China Sea and western Pacific areas in particular is a normal situation.”

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US destroyer the USS John McCain also passed through the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday, which the Chinese military’s eastern theatre command denounced for sending the “wrong signal” to Taiwan’s government.

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