“In terms of launching ballistic missiles, the U.S. Navy has 38 ships underway today in the Indo-Pacific region, including in the South China Sea,” he said. “And we continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere international laws allow us to demonstrate our commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and reassure our allies and partners.”
Such exercises are nonetheless studied for insights into new military advances. Mr. Fravel noted that China had previously tested the DF-21, an anti-ship missile known as a carrier killer. If effective, it could put at risk operations like those conducted last month by the two American carriers, the Ronald Reagan and the Nimitz.
He said that it was not clear if the missiles were fired at fixed or moving targets, adding that the latter would be “a better test of the overall system, to include identifying, tracking, and destroying a moving ship at sea.”
Steven Lee Myers reported from Seoul, South Korea, and Keith Bradsher from Shanghai. Albee Zhang and Claire Fu contributed research.
Source Article from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/27/world/asia/missiles-south-china-sea.html
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