A US aircraft carrier group entered the South China Sea yesterday. While the Navy said the exercise was part of routine operations that aim to “ensure freedom of the seas,” the move drew criticism from the Chinese government (which has laid claim to ~90% of the disputed waterway). The military exercise comes amid increasing tensions between the US and China, including recent actions related to Chinese technology companies, Taiwan, and the repression of Uighur Muslims (which the US designated as genocide last week).
More context: The US rejected China’s claims in the South China Sea last year, noting that China's “campaign of bullying” to control the resource-rich trade route is “completely unlawful.” Roughly $3T worth of trade passes through the waterway annually.
The New Paper
This story is from the January 25, 2021 edition of The New Paper – a clear, concise daily briefing that makes fact-first news easy to consume. Try it today.
