PRESS RELEASE

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U.S. in New Naval Provocations against China

June 19, 2016 (EIRNS)—Two U.S. carrier groups, led by the U.S.S. John Stennis and the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan, engaged in joint deployments into the Philippines Sea on Saturday, in a clear provocation against China. Some 12,000 sailors, 140 aircraft and six smaller battle ships engaged in the joint surveillance operations, according to the New York Times. An American official involved in the planning of the deployments told the Times that it was clearly timed to deliver a message to China on the eve of anticipated ruling from an international arbitration panel in The Hague. The U.S.S. John Stennis carrier group joined the USS Ronald Reagan after conducting joint maneuvers with both Japanese and Indian navies earlier in the week, which did take place in part in the South China Sea.

Last week, the United States also deployed four Navy Growlers, electronic warfare planes, and 120 military personnel to Clark Air Base in the Philippines.