BEIJING: China has deployed its second aircraft carrier ‘Shandong’ which was spotted patrolling waters off the Philippine coast as Manila stepped up efforts to assert its claims over a shoal in the disputed South China Sea firmly opposing Beijing’s counterclaims.
Shandong, an aircraft carrier with a displacement of about 70,000 tonnes, was seen patrolling the waters of the Philippines which serves as a deterrence against “continuous Philippine provocations” on Chinese islands and reefs in the South China Sea, state-run Global Times media reported on Monday.
The aircraft carrier is likely on a scheduled exercise that could also prepare it for a potential far sea voyage into the West Pacific, it quoted Chinese experts as saying.
Shandong’s deployment comes after the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) deployed major surface combat ships, including large and medium destroyers as well as the main amphibious landing ship in the South China Sea as the maritime territorial conflict with Manila escalated.
Ni Lexiong, a defence professor in the Department of Political Science at Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, was quoted by the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post as saying that the Shandong’s passage was meant to be a deterrent to Manila and Washington and underline “China’s determination to protect territorial sea sovereignty” amid tensions over the Second Thomas Shoal.
Chester Cabalza, president and founder of International Development and Security Cooperation, a Manila-based think tank, said the carrier’s patrol was an example of “performative politics” by Beijing that could become a frequent event.
If so, it “would mean that there is a red flag on their national security”, he said, adding that “once we see massive military force, that means that Beijing is preparing for a war”, the Post reported.
The China-Philippines confrontation to assert their claims in the disputed South China Sea took a violent turn last month as their naval ships collided in the first such incident after Beijing issued new rules to act against foreign vessels and detain foreigners “suspected of violating” regulations in the Chinese waters.
PTI

KR Desk