The Pentagon has warned that US maritime forces will become more forceful in responding to acts of aggression, expansionism, and breaches of international law, citing Beijing in particular, which has been criticised for expansionist ambitions in the South China Sea.
SOUTH CHINA SEA (Dec. 11, 2020) A U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 164 (Reinforced), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, flies above the Republic of Singapore Navy ship RSS Endurance (207), left, Singapore Navy Fast Craft Units, front, the amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD 25), back, and U.S. Navy Landing Craft, Air Cushions 39 and 79, assigned to Assault Craft Unit 5, for PHOTOEX during Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Singapore. This year marks the 26th iteration of CARAT, a multinational exercise designed to enhance U.S. and partner navies’ abilities to operate together in response to traditional and non-traditional maritime security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brendan Mullin)
A major new report signed by the heads of the US Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard warned the “rules-based international order is once again under assault”, and the security environment had dramatically changed since 2015.
