U.S. to send George Washington to Yellow Sea for future joint drills with S. Korea: Pentagon

[ErnstBlofeld]

Yonhap News/Hwang Doo-hyong:

 

The United States Thursday reaffirmed its pledge to send a super carrier to joint military exercises with South Korea in waters near China despite Beijing's objections.

 

"The USS George Washington will indeed exercise in the Yellow Sea again," Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said. "We have said that will take place. I don't think we have determined a date yet, but rest assured, the George Washington will operate in the Yellow Sea, as it does in other international waters."

 

The spokesman was repeating remarks by Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, last month that the aircraft carrier will take part in future joint drills in the Yellow Sea.

 

The remarks come amid thawing ties between the two superpowers, which have locked horns for months over Washington's decision to sell more than US$6 billion in weapons to Taiwan and to allow a visit to Washington by the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, whom China considers a separatist.

 

 

Edited September 23, 2010 by Rheo
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