{"id":67190,"date":"2019-08-06T12:20:21","date_gmt":"2019-08-06T12:20:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/08\/06\/us-carrier-sails-into-disputed-waters-amid-new-flare-ups\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T13:20:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T13:20:22","slug":"us-carrier-sails-into-disputed-waters-amid-new-flare-ups","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/08\/06\/us-carrier-sails-into-disputed-waters-amid-new-flare-ups\/","title":{"rendered":"US carrier sails into disputed South China Sea waters amid new flare-ups"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

ABOARD THE RONALD REAGAN, South China Sea \u2014 A U.S. aircraft carrier sailed through the disputed South China Sea on Tuesday in the latest show of America\u2019s military might amid new territorial flare-ups involving China and three rival claimant states<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Navy flew a small group of Philippine generals<\/a>, officials and journalists to the aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan, where they watched fighter jets landing and taking off by catapult with thunderous blasts. The nuclear-powered carrier, carrying about 70 supersonic F\/A-18 jets, spy planes and helicopters, was en route to Manila for a port visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Armed cruisers kept watch a few miles (kilometers) away from the carrier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe motto of this carrier is peace through strength,\u201d Rear Adm. Karl Thomas told journalists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Rear
Rear Adm. Karl Thomas, Task Force 70\/commander, Carrier Strike Group 5, poses before an E-2 Hawkeye plane following a media interview aboard the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan off South China Sea on Aug. 6, 2019. (Bullit Marquez\/AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

He said the American military presence helps provide security and stability that foster diplomatic talks among rival claimant nations. He made the comment when asked what message the warship\u2019s presence was sending<\/a> amid new tensions involving China and rival claimants Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines over long-contested territories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe just think that folks should follow the international law and our presence allows us to provide that security and stability in the background for these discussions to take place,\u201d Thomas said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei have been locked in on-and-off territorial conflicts over the strategic waters, where a bulk of Asian and world commerce transits, for decades. Tensions rose to new highs when China transformed seven disputed reefs in the Spratly chain into islands and then installed a missile-defense system, runways and hangars.<\/p>\n\n\n\t