After news broke that the United States may join allies in conducting military exercises around China during the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, a Chinese think tank released satellite imagery Jan. 17 showing three large U.S. military surface formations are massing around China.
“Three Large U.S. Military Formations Rallying Around China?” Chinese think tank “South China Sea Strategic Situational Awareness” said in a public message on its official social account on Jan. 17 that on Jan. 16, in the direction of the South China Sea, according to the trajectory of the U.S. naval transport aircraft CMV-22B, it was inferred that the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier had circled the Spratly Islands after a maneuver. After maneuvering around the Spratly Islands, it left the South China Sea by the Mindoro Strait.
Meanwhile, in the East China Sea, the amphibious assault ship USS America left Sasebo on Jan. 14 and sailed to the waters near Okinawa on Jan. 16.
The “South China Sea Strategic Situation Awareness” specifically mentions that a carrier strike group and two amphibious alert groups of U.S. forces operating in the Western Pacific may further converge for a “1+2” joint exercise.
Some Chinese netizens have joked that the U.S. fleet is gathering to pay their respects to China as the Chinese Lunar New Year is approaching.
Before that, a reporter asked on Jan. 14 that the United Nations adopted the Olympic Truce for the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2021, urging countries to call a truce and cease hostilities before and after the Beijing Winter Olympics. However, there are signs that the U.S. may continue to hold military exercises with its allies around China before, during and after the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. What is China’s comment on this?
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin responded on January 14 that the Olympic Truce Resolution for the Beijing Winter Olympics was adopted by consensus at the 76th session of the General Assembly and reflects the consensus of all UN members. This resolution urges all countries to observe the Olympic Truce and cease hostilities from seven days before the opening of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games to seven days after the closing of the Beijing Winter Paralympic Games, and calls on all countries to work to promote peace and mutual understanding among human beings. The effective observance of this spirit by all parties is both a responsibility and an obligation, as well as a common expectation of the international community.
As planned, the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing will be held from February 4 to February 20, and the Paralympic Games from March 4 to March 13.
