The United States has deployed three B-2 Spirit strategic bombers to the Asia Pacific on Tuesday, US Strategic Command (STRATCOM) announced in a Wednesday press release. Tensions in the Asia Pacific have been on the rise in recent weeks as North Korea reportedly put its nuclear weapons on high alert, threatening a preemptive nuclear strike against US and South Korean forces.

"Recent events demonstrate the continued need to provide consistent and credible air power throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region," US Pacific Air Forces Commander General Lori Robinson said.

Robinson noted that the deployment of strategic bombers ensure the US ability "to project power at a time and place of our choosing," and also improve interoperability with regional allies and partners.

The US and South Korean militaries are engaged in a major military drill on the Korean Peninsula. Moreover, the United States has also been carrying out "freedom of navigation operations" in the South China Sea, actions that have been condemned by China. STRATCOM routinely conducts bomber missions and deployed earlier in March B-52 nuclear bombers to Europe.

earlier report
China Concerned Over USPlans to Deploy Long-RangeBombers to Australia
China expressed concern on Wednesday about reported US plans to deploy long-range heavy bombers to Australia, the foreign ministry said.

A report by the ABC broadcaster on Tuesday cited General Lori Robinson from the US Pacific Air Forces as saying talks were underway with Australia to regularly rotate B-1 heavy bombers in the country.

Gen. Robinson added that the US Air Force would continue to fly over disputed areas in the South China Sea.

"We are concerned about these reports," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told journalists at a press briefing.

Hong Lei warned the United States and Australia that their military cooperation should be aimed at protecting peace and stability in the region, rather than hurting the interests of a third party.

China and its neighbors - Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei, and the Philippines - have numerous territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

Source: Sputnik News