REFILE-US sends carriers to S.China Sea during Chinese drills - WSJ

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July 4 (Reuters) - The United States is sending two aircraft
carriers into the South China Sea at the same time as China is
conducting military exercises in the contested waterway, the
Wall Street Journal reported.
The USS Ronald Reagan and USS Nimitz would be in the South
China Sea from Saturday, the U.S. news outlet quoted the strike
group commander as saying.
"The purpose is to show an unambiguous signal to our
partners and allies that we are committed to regional security
and stability," Rear Admiral George M. Wikoff was quoted as
saying.
He said the exercises were not a response to those being
conducted by China, which the Pentagon criticised this week as
"counter-productive to efforts at easing tensions and
maintaining stability".
China dismissed the U.S. criticism of its drills on Friday
and suggested the United States was to blame for increasing
tensions. Wikoff did not give the location of the U.S. exercises. The
Wall Street Journal said they would be conducted by the two
carriers and four other warships and would include
round-the-clock flights.
China announced last week it had scheduled five days of
drills starting July 1 near the Paracel Islands, which are
claimed by both Vietnam and China.
Vietnam and the Philippines have also criticised the planned
Chinese drills, warning they could create tension in the region
and impact Beijing's relationship with its neighbours.
The United States accuses China of miniaturising the South
China Sea and trying to intimidate Asian neighbours who might
want to exploit its extensive oil and gas reserves.
China claims 90% of the potentially energy-rich South China
Sea, but Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam
also lay claim to parts of it, through which about $3 trillion
of trade passes each year.

(Writing by Matthew Tostevin; Editing by William Mallard)