Both aircrafts, which are heavily-armed, conducted training in the area before returning to Guam. The bombers are stationed in support of the US Air Force’s Continuous Bomber Presence (CBP) mission intended to deter any country with adversarial intentions. While the flights are seen as “challenges to China”, the flights on Monday were in accordance with international law, according to the Air Force.
US Pacific Air Forces told ABC News: “Two B-52H Stratofortress bombers took off from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, and participated in routine training missions, March 4, 2019.
“One bomber conducted training in the vicinity of the South China Sea before returning to Guam, while the other conducted training in the vicinity of Japan in coordination with the US Navy and alongside our Japanese air force counterparts before returning to Guam.”
The US has sent B-1, B-52 and B-2 bombers from Guam since 2004 as part of the CBP mission.
But Beijing is reportedly “sensitive” about US presence near the stretch of sea where Chinese government has built military facilities.
The South China Sea is currently controlled by the People’s Republic of China despite claims by other nations including Vietnam, Taiwan, Cambodia, Brunei and the Philippines.
The area is subject to a huge amount of international sea trade and is believed to harbour large amounts of oil and natural gases.
Last month, the US Navy sent two guided-missile destroyers near the Chinese manmade islands in a bid to show off its military presence.
The two warships completed their passage in a move that China has constantly objected to.
However China has insisted its navy is one of the largest in the world and capable of competing with the US.
China has since announced that its defence spending in 2019 will rise by 7.5 percent from last year.
The Philippines’ top defence official has questioned a key treaty with the US over fears it could drag the country into war in the South China Sea, CNN reports.
Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the Philippines will be “automatically involved” in a shooting war with the US after the increased and frequent passage of its naval vessels in the waterway.
Source: Express Uk