Despite the routine activities, today is historic: 10 Cambodian diplomats, including senior officials from the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and the Ministry of Interior, have come aboard to study real-time naval operations as the vessel plies disputed waters of the South China Sea.
During the rare visit, Cambodians even received hands-on experience commanding take-off and landing, ordering jets on practice missions.
“We are conducting normal operations for a carrier strike group — freedom of navigation, operating in the vicinity of worldwide commerce," said Captain Michael “Buzz” Donnelly, the vessel's commanding officer, who describes their location as roughly halfway between the internationally contested Spratly and Paracel Islands. "Lots of ships have been going through this area, from Australia to Malacca. It is an area that we’re frequently operating in and [conducting] exercises with our friends, allies, and neighbors, to demonstrate our commitment to the freedom of the sea and the freedom of commerce.”
Today is an opportunity "for the Cambodian military and government officials to come out and see exactly what it is for an aircraft carrier to operate on the high seas," he says. "For us to have that exchange ... is nothing but beneficial to our relationship.”
Cambodian Interior Minister Prum Sokha echoed the sentiment, calling the visit vital to maintaining "peace in the region and in the world.”...
[voanews.com]
17/7/16
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Freedom of navigation no excuse of military drills in South China Sea: expert ...
ReplyDeleteFreedom of navigation should not be the excuse of the United States and other countries' military exercises in the South China Sea, an expert said here on Tuesday.
Zhang Junshe, senior research fellow of the Military and Academic Institute of the Chinese Navy, told a press briefing that around 100,000 vessels sail through the South China Sea every year, none has made complains regarding freedom of navigation.
In the press briefing following Monday's Think Tank Seminar on South China Sea and Regional Cooperation and Development, Zhang said the US deployed heavy military power in the South China Sea, upgrading tension rather than "maintaining peace and stability."
"Countries outside the region could stir up tension and say farewell, but the consequences will fall on parties really concerned," said the expert.
He reminded certain countries in the South China Sea of the recently released investigation report on the Iraq war, saying kowtowing too much to the US is proved to be dangerous.
A long-awaited report by former British civil servant John Chilcot released earlier this month revealed the invasion led by the US and Britain was planned on flawed intelligence and lack of adequate preparation for the post-war governance.
The Chinese expert also called on the US and its allies to stop provocative military drills in the region, saying the Chinese military has its right and might to protect the country's sovereignty.
globaltimes.cn
19/7/16