In a show of military force in the disputed South China Sea, the US Navy has dispatched a carrier strike group (CSG) to the disputed international waterway amid rising tensions in the region as Beijing and Washington exchange accusations of militarizing the region.

A carrier strike group (CSG) is an operational formation of the United States Navy. It is composed of roughly 7,500 personnel, an aircraft carrier, at least one cruiser, a destroyer squadron of at least two destroyers and/or frigates, and a carrier air wing of 65 to 70 aircrafts.

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US aircraft carrier John C. Stennis, two destroyers, two cruisers, and the 7th Fleet flagship have been conducting naval patrols and have sailed near the disputed waters in the past days, according to US military officials.

                                                           Latest move

The deployment of the carrier strike group is the latest move by the US to show its military might in the already tense area, where Washington has accused Beijing of militarizing as a way of protecting its excessive territorial claims.

The carrier Stennis was reportedly deployed from Washington on January 15.

Aside from Stennis, the carrier strike group is composed of the two cruisers Antietam and Mobile Bay, and the destroyers Chung-Hoon and Stockdale. The command ship Blue Ridge, the floating headquarters of the Japan-based 7th Fleet, is also in the area en-route to the Philippines for a port visit.

                                                          Japanese fleet

The floating Japanese headquarters - the Blue Ridge - has been conducting "routine patrols" separate from the Stennis,  as well as following up patrols conducted by the destroyer McCampbell and the dock landing ship Ashland in the later part of February.

Tensions have been heating up between China and the United States following news of China's alleged deployment of surface-to-air missiles system in the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea.

US Pacific Command Commander Harry Harris told lawmakers at a recent congressional hearing that China was militarizing the South China Sea region.

                                                        Stennis         

"In my opinion China is clearly militarizing the South China Sea," Harris testified on Feb. 24.

China has since denied Harris' accusation, counter-accusing the US of being the one militarizing the South China Sea with its regular patrols in the area.

"The accusation [that China is militarizing the region] can lead to a miscalculation of the situation," said Fu Ying, a spokeswoman for China's National People's Congress.

                                                         Advanced aircraft

"If you take a look at the matter closely, it's the US sending the most advanced aircraft and military vessels to the South China Sea," she added.

The US has downplayed its heavy military presence in the area saying the carrier strike group has conducted 'routine operations' in the Western Pacific including the South China Sea for decades.

Despite this, military experts have said the US deployment of Stennis and an air wing is clearly a signal to China and the South China Sea region of its military interests in the area.

                                                          Freedom of navigation

"Clearly the Navy and Department of National Defense is demonstrating its full commitment to presence and freedom of navigation in the region," said Jerry Hendrix, a retired Navy captain and a defense analyst in Washington DC.

"With the full carrier strike group and the command ship,the Navy is showing the scope of its interests and ability to project presence and power around the world, " he pointed out.

TagsUS Navy, carrier strike group, armada, Freedom of Navigation, china