US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently issued a statement that the United States does not recognize the legality of most of China’s claim in the South China Sea. This is followed by a statement from Defense Secretary Mark Esper that “Goodwill and best wishes do not secure freedom; strength does.” Such fighting words were followed up by the US deployment of two aircraft carrier strike groups (the Ronald Reagan and the Nimitz) with their complete complements of cruisers, destroyers, frigates, supply ships, and submarines into the area conducting so-called “freedom of navigation” and naval exercises that included live firing.

Corpus, V. N. (2020, September 24). Understanding the simmering US-China rivalry in the SCS: First of 2 parts. The Manila Times, p. A8.