Even though COVID-19 wreaked havoc worldwide in 2020, the US military continued to carry out intensive military activities in the South China Sea, with their strategic weapon platforms, typically carrier strike groups, strategic bombers and nuclear attack submarines, operating in the region frequently, posing unprecedented deterrence against China. In the meantime, the US Navy and Air Force continued to conduct frequent reconnaissance operations in the region, deploying a mix of reconnaissance aircraft, including those of civilian contractors, to the South China Sea, all of which built up strong momentum for battlefield construction and warfighting readiness across the US military.
Content
I. Strategic platforms frequently operated with a conspicuous intent of deterring China
II. Air reconnaissance forces intensified with and new features
III. Warships intensively operated near China’s stationed islands and reefs and the Taiwan Strait
IV. The scale and frequency of US military exercises decreased greatly
Ⅴ. Conclusion and Prospect
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