Chinese Shandong Carrier Escalates Tensions in South China Sea; US, Canada, Japan Respond with Naval Presence

US, Canadian, and Japanese navies respond with powerful displays of military might to China's escalating activities, and international concern grows over the potential threat to global trade and the freedom of navigation.

• China's first home-built aircraft carrier, the Shandong, has arrived in the South China Sea, escalating concerns over regional stability and potentially threatening freedom of navigation. This assertive display of naval power underlines China's territorial ambitions in the area.
• The United States, in collaboration with Japanese forces, is demonstrating a formidable display of naval strength to protect regional stability and freedom of navigation. This includes two U.S. nuclear-powered supercarriers, the USS Ronald Reagan and the USS Carl Vinson, equipped with technologically advanced weapon systems.
• Canadian naval forces have also been subject to interactions with the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) in the South China Sea. These incidents further underline the need for a robust international naval presence to maintain maritime rules and order.
• China, despite its claim on almost 90 per cent of the South China Sea, has been legally challenged by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. Yet, it continues to construct artificial islands equipped with military bases and prevent other nations from carrying out activities in these waters.
• Following extensive drills in the western Pacific, China's Shandong carrier sailed through the Taiwan Strait, further intensifying military tensions in the region. Taiwan's defence ministry responded by deploying forces to monitor the Chinese vessels.

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