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Chapter 2
Geo-Strategic Shifts in the South China Sea
The evolving situation indicates Military Force Projections
a development of clear major power
confrontation in the region. South The pattern of the U.S.-China
China Sea has become a hotspot for geopolitical competition that will unfold Implications to ASEAN
the U.S.-China strategy to collide in in this hotspot will be highly influenced
the Indian and Pacific regions. U.S.-China by how the two countries’ military forces
competition in the region has developed will operate in terms of a broader regional Evolving Geo-Strategic Matrix in South China Sea:
into a differentiated competition under strategy. China is expected to improve its
the structural context of China’s challenge military capabilities in the region centered
to the U.S.-led regional order and the U.S. on the Carrier Strike Group. In response, the
response. U.S. is expected to ensure the superiority
of the U.S. Pacific Fleet’s combat and
15
deployment capabilities. It is also
expected to improve the force projection
capability through US Air Force. In 11
particular, the importance of deploying
air force for the U.S. military capability
was highlighted against the backdrop of
the situation in which the operation of
the Roosevelt aircraft carrier is restricted
due to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.
In this context, in April 2020, B-52H
bombers and B-1B strategic bombers
launched over the South China Sea on
two times, demonstrating their military
Source:
16
www.eia.gov.com capabilities.
15 Ministry of National Defense, “Regular Press Conference of the ministry of National Defense on Apr. 30”
(May 4, 2020).
16 Stars and Stripes, “Air Force bombers fly over South China Sea in latest foray into contested space”
(April 30, 2020).
