On Tuesday, two US Air Force B-52 bombers flew over, for the second time in less than 30 days, the areas of the South China Sea on which Beijing claims its sovereignty.
The two aircraft departed from the Anderson base in Guam, as a spokesperson for the US Air Force explained, and conducted a "Routine training mission" which is part of the activities that the (recently renamed) Indo-Pacific Command1 plays in the region from the 2004 "On the basis of what is allowed by international law, in order to preserve freedom of navigation".
The last event related to the overflying of bombers in the area dates back to the 27 last September, when two B 52 had crossed the Air Defense Identification Zone that Beijing has declared unilaterally, and then go to operate - escorted by Tokyo jet - on the Japanese islands Senkaku, in the East China Sea.
In this circumstance, Beijing had defined how "Provocative" Washington's maneuvers adding that it would be undertaken "Any option, and appeal to any means to protect its interests and rights in the area".
Beijing claims about 80% of the South China Sea on the basis of a unilaterally declared dividing line (nine dash line), and has territorial disputes with Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei, Taiwan and Malaysia. Contention contests also exist with Japan, for sovereignty over the Senkaku islands covering about 81.000 square miles in the East China Sea.
The event on Tuesday is likely to significantly affect the ASEAN countries' summit2 which opens today in Singapore, during which USA and China will most likely confirm the positions of mutual closure that have long characterized the new course of relations between the two giants.
(photo: US Air Force)
