The U.S. confirmed that its navy is practicing for a potential war with China, according to BBC reporter Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, who was invited aboard the USS George Washington.

During Wingfield-Hayes' tour on the U.S. nuclear aircraft carrier, he was informed that the U.S. navy is not gearing up for war with any country, but it has assembled two carrier battle groups with 200 aircraft near Guam's coast for what the Pentagon has branded as the "Air Sea Battle."

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The "Air Sea Battle" concept, which was first brought up in 2009, is designed to combat China's rising military threat, BBC News detailed.

Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery, the Carrier Strike Group Five commander, says his troops are practicing for an "anti-access, area denial" situation. The strategy is designed to allow the navy to operate unrestrictedly in any marine territory, Montgomery explained.

Although Montgomery declined to reveal more details about the exercise, he did say that other countries' ability to remove or limit satellite communication pose a threat to his ships and planes.

"So we have to practice working in a communications-denied environment," the admiral said.

While People's Liberation Army Navy of China is still no match for its American counterpart, it has begun developing weapons that will help ward off U.S. carriers from Chinese shores. Quieter submarines, medium range ballistic missiles and long-range hypersonic anti-ship missiles are among the new weapons they have developed.

In the last decade, China has been repeatedly reassuring its neighbors that its increasing military capabilities do not pose any threat. But when President Xi Jinping stepped into office last year, China has started claiming ownership of territories outside its coastline, the report stated.

Right now, China's ships are patrolling around the East China Sea to monitor two of Japan's long-controlled islands, the Senkaku and Diaoyu. The Chinese government is investing billions just to construct new islands in its southern waters.

The need for the naval drills rose to whole new level when an international airspace confrontation over the South China Sea between a Chinese fighter jet and an American surveillance plane occurred in August, Montgomery said.

The U.S. admiral said the American navy helps "stabilize" situations in the Philippine Sea, South and East China Seas and discourage adversaries from taking illegal actions. He also said they play a "good role" in assuring their international partners.

For sure, China's leaders would disagree with Admiral Montgomery. Its long-term goal to control waters near its own shores will make a conflict with the U.S. Navy more possible, BBC News reported.

TagsPolitical geography, Asia, Cross-Strait relation, politics, Political status of Taiwan, Navy, Aircraft carrier, United States of America