Military Competition In The South China Sea Continues In The Middle Of A Pandemic

US Navy aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, guided-missile cruiser USS Chosin, guided-missile destroyers USS Sampson and USS Pinkney, and guided-missile frigate USS Rentz in the South China Sea. US Navy

Rodger Baker, Senior VP of Strategic Analysis, Stratfor: Even a pandemic hasn't stopped the military competition in the South China Sea

  * The US and China have maintained a robust operational pace in the South China Sea despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
  * This suggests no reduction of operations is likely after the pandemic, which may have altered some of the tactical and operational aspects for the two Pacific powers, but has not removed either from the regional dynamic.

Numerous reports have raised fears that China is taking advantage of US distraction and the sidelining of two US aircraft carriers in the Pacific due to the COVID-19 pandemic. China had made similar accusations against the United States earlier this year, claiming Washington was exploiting China's pandemic response to advance its own containment strategy. And both are correct in that the pandemic does not appear to have slowed down Chinese or US activities in the region.

The continued pace of maritime operations in the South China Sea despite COVID-19 stands out, a pace that has continued to rise over the past few years. Rather than this being a brief surge in activity by China to exploit US weakness, it is a reflection of ongoing — and harbinger of continued — escalation.

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WNU Editor: No one wants to show any weakness.

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