Amid escalating tensions in the South China Sea, Vice Admiral Karl Thomas, commander of the US Navy’s Seventh Fleet, issued a resolute call to challenge and restrain China’s “aggressive behavior” in the region. Highlighting an incident involving China’s coast guard employing a water cannon against a Philippine vessel on August 5, Thomas emphasized the imperative to counter encroachments operating in a “grey zone” by responding with resolute action.
Reaffirming US support for the Philippines in the face of shared challenges, Vice Admiral Thomas conveyed, “My forces are out here for a reason.” The Seventh Fleet, the largest of the US Navy’s forward-deployed fleets, stationed in Japan, commands up to 70 ships, over 150 aircraft, and more than 27,000 sailors. Operating across an expanse of 124 million square kilometers, the fleet’s bases span Japan, South Korea, and Singapore.
Thomas underscored the necessity to challenge and resist incremental expansions and provocations by adopting an assertive approach, as witnessed in the August 5th incident. A Chinese coast guard vessel directed a water cannon against a Philippine boat, a move emblematic of the broader power play between the US and China in the strategic South China Sea.
In the pursuit of shared interests, Thomas engaged in discussions with Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos, responsible for the Philippine Western Command overseeing the South China Sea. These dialogues aimed at comprehending challenges and identifying collaborative avenues for assistance. Thomas’s visit to Manila facilitated the exchange of insights and resources for dealing with the ongoing dynamics in the region.
Reflecting on his own engagement, Thomas conveyed, “We certainly shared challenges. So I wanted to better understand how he views the operations that he’s responsible for. And I want to make sure that he understood what I had available.”
China’s extensive claims over the South China Sea have faced international scrutiny, culminating in the Philippines’ legal victory in 2016, invalidating China’s sweeping assertion of sovereignty. Beijing’s construction of fortified artificial islands in the region has exacerbated its rivalry with neighboring countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia.
As China’s ambitions continue to collide with regional interests, the US Navy’s Seventh Fleet’s call for robust response resonates as a critical statement in a geopolitical arena marked by escalating tensions and territorial disputes.
