US sends carriers to East Sea
(VOVWORLD) - Two US aircraft carriers were conducting exercises in the East Sea (internationally known as South China Sea) on Saturday, the US navy said, as China also carried out military drills that have been criticized by the Pentagon and neighboring countries.
China announced last week it had scheduled 5 days of drills starting July 1 near the Paracel Islands, which Beijing seized from Vietnam in 1974.
Rear Admiral George Wikoff, commander of the strike group led by the Ronald Reagan, said the exercises aimed to show an unambiguous signal to the US partners and allies that it is committed to regional security and stability.