Edited by nutnet at 7-4-2020 10:44 PM
America's top commander in Asia requests $20bn to take on China by building a missile shield for Guam and deploying missiles to protect Taiwan as the Chinese navy ramps up exercises amid outrage at coronavirus ‘cover-up’
- Admiral Phil Davidson requested $20bn to bolster US military in South China Sea
- The funding would go towards a missile shield on Guam and missiles for Taiwan
- Request comes after China conducted a string of military operations in the disputed territory amid the global coronavirus pandemic
America's top naval commander in Asia has requested an extra $20billion from congress to take on China after the Chinese navy ramped up military operations in the South China Sea. The $20billion requested by Admiral Phil Davidson, chief of the United States Indo-Pacific Command, would go toward a missile shield to intercept attacks on the US island territory of Guam; a bolstering of Taiwan's missile systems to deter invasion; and a cash injection for allied operations in the region.
The request, made to congress in a report titled Regain the Advantage, comes shortly after Washington accused Beijing of what it said were hostile actions in the South China Sea amid the global coronavirus pandemic.
As Washington tries to curb the spread of the coronavirus domestically, which has killed over 10,000 people in the US as of yesterday, China has resumed operations in the disputed territory, sinking a Vietnamese fishing boat and bolstering its military installations. On the English-language version of the Chinese military's website, a post from earlier this month reads: 'The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy conducted combat-oriented drills featuring surface vessels, submarines and fighter jets in the South China Sea in late March, a month in which the US frequently sent warships and warplanes to intrude the waters.'
The 'intrusion' perceived by China was the passing of the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier through disputed waters on its way to Guam. While the US did not respond directly to Beijing's allegations, State Department Spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus condemned the ramming and sinking of a Vietnamese fishing vessel near the contested Paracel Islands.
Beijing claimed the boat sank when it collided with one of their coast guard vessels after illegally entering Chinese waters. Ortagus said that China's hostile move was another attempt to contend its 'unlawful maritime claims and disadvantage its Southeast Asian neighbors in the South China Sea.'
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus at the end of last year in Wuhan, China, Ortagus said, Beijing has also bolstered its military capabilities on the Fiery Cross and Subi Reefs, a series of military outposts in the waters. 'We call on the PRC to remain focused on supporting international efforts to combat the global pandemic, and to stop exploiting the distraction or vulnerability of other states to expand its unlawful claims in the South China Sea,' Ortagus said. The strong words come amid rising anti-China rhetoric from the US for Beijing's handling of the coronavirus outbreak.
Malaysia, Filipina macam mana? Tak ada kuasa lansung kat perairan south china sea ke. Abih la terhimpit dek kuasa2 besar berebut nih...
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Post time 7-4-2020 10:43 PM
变色卡
Post time 9-4-2020 08:33 AM
