The United States said U.S. Marine Corps F-35B stealth jet fighters will be deployed aboard the new Royal Navy supercarrier, the HMS Queen Elizabeth, when this warship begins patrols of the South China Sea in 2021.

UK Secretary of State for Defense Sir Michael Fallon signed an agreement with U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter to allow Marine F35Bs to deploy from HMS Queen Elizabeth.

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The British stealth fighters to see action from the HMS Queen Elizabeth will be F-35Bs, the same aircraft flown by pilots of U.S. Marine Corps Aviation, the air component of the USMC. The first Royal Navy F-35Bs will be deployed aboard the carrier in 2018. F-35Bs from the Royal Air Force will also become operational in the same year.

The Marine's Northrop Grumman F-35Bs and F-35Bs from the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm will deploy alongside each other when the HMS Queen Elizabeth begins her first operational tour in 2021.

The F-35B is the short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the F-35. It can take-off and land vertically like a helicopter from the decks of Nimitz-class aircraft carriers (CVN); amphibious assault ships (LHD) and the America-class amphibious assault ships (LHA)

The Marines plan to purchase some 340 F-35Bs to replace current inventories of both the F/A-18 Hornet (A, B, C and D-models), and the AV-8B Harrier II jump jet, in the fighter and attack roles.

The announcement of the joint strike force aboard the Queen Elizabeth comes a week after the commander of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) strongly warned the United States and the UK against conducting any more "freedom of navigation and flight" patrols in the South China  Sea.

PLAN Commander Admiral Wu Shengli said China firmly opposes interventions in the South China Sea from countries outside the region, an indirect reference to the U.S. and the UK.

He also said China stoutly opposes "unprofessional and unsafe acts" by ships or aircraft in the South China Sea, including attempts to use "freedom of navigation and flight" as an excuse to compromise Chinese sovereignty over the South China Sea and to destabilize Asia.

"The construction work on the Nansha (Spratly) Islands, which are our own territory, is completely lawful and reasonable," claims Admiral Wu.

"There are defense facilities, but most of the infrastructure on the islands is to serve civilian purposes. They can provide a wider range of public services to neighboring nations and the entire international community."

The U.S. Navy has been conducting what it calls "Freedom of Navigation Operations" in the South China Sea since early this year.  The UK also said its Royal Navy will begin naval patrols of the South China Sea in 2021 after its first supercarrier, the HMS Queen Elizabeth, becomes operational.

Admiral Wu also suggested that other countries should respect historic facts; resort to negotiation for disputes; enhance mutual trust and personnel exchanges and improve joint drills.

An International Court of Arbitration in The Hague last July 12, however, issued a ruling invalidating China's claim to own the South China Sea based on its alleged historical rights. The court found China had infringed Philippine sovereignty by seizing islands rightfully owned by the Philippines.

China has refused to obey the court's ruling telling it to return the islands to the Philippines.

TagsF-35B, U.S. Marine Corps, HMS Queen Elizabeth, South China Sea, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps Aviation, Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm, Admiral Wu Shengli