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USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) through international waters of the South China Sea (U.S. Navy/MC3 Askia Collins)

Muling nagpakita ng show of force ang puwersa armada ng Amerika sa karagatang malapit sa West Philippines Sea sa pangunguna ng Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group.

Ito na ang pangalawang pagkakataon ngayong taon na nagkaroon ng deployment ang tanging forward-deployed aircraft carrier na USS Ronald Reagan kasama ang Carrier Air Wing, Task Force 70, Destroyer Squadron-15 at ang Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh (CG 67).

Ang strike group ng Amerika ay pumasok malapit sa West Philippine Sea makaraan ang matagumpay na naval operations ng U.S. 5th Fleet para magibigay ng maritime security at stability.

Sinasabing ang Carrier Air Wing ay umantabay din sa kanilang airpower upang proteksiyunan ang US at coalition forces sa pagsasagawa ng withdrawal operations kamakailan sa Afghanistan.

“The deployment of Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group to the Middle East and rapid seamless return to the Pacific highlight the flexibility and responsiveness of a premier maritime force and the power and reach of global coalitions dedicated to the stability provided by international law and rules based order,” ani Rear Adm. Will Pennington, commander, Task Force 70, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 5.

USS Ronald Reagan WPS
USS Ronald Reagan

Habang nasa bahagi ng karagatan malapit sa China ang strike group, magsasagawa naman ito ng “fixed and rotary-wing flight operations, maritime strike exercises, anti-submarine operations, at coordinated tactical training.”

Una rito, habang nasa rehiyon ang strike group pinulong naman ni US President Joe Biden ang mga lider ng mga bansang binubuo ng “the Quad” sa Washington na kinabibilangan ng Australia, Japan at India, kung saan kabilang sa kanilang layunin ay tapatan ang pagiging “bully” ng China.