HONG KONG: As US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi headed to Taipei amid intensifying warnings from China, four US warships, including an aircraft carrier, were positioned in waters east of island on “routine” deployments. Carrier USS Ronald Reagan had transited South China Sea and was currently in Philippines Sea, east of Taiwan and Philippines and south of Japan, a US Navy official confirmed to Reuters yesterday. Japanese-based Reagan is operating with a guided missile cruiser, USS Antietam and a destroyer USS Higgins.

“While they are able to respond to any eventuality, these are normal, routine deployments,” official said, who spoke on condition of anonymity. official added that they were unable to comment on precise locations. US Navy official said amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli was also in area as part of a deployment to region that started in early May from its home port of San Diego. Pelosi, a long-time China critic, was expected to arrive in Taipei people briefed on matter said, as United States said it would not be intimidated by Chinese “saber rattling” over visit. Confirmation of deployments comes as signs emerge of military activity on both sides of Taiwan strait ahead of Pelosi visit. In addition to Chinese planes flying close to median line dividing sensitive waterway on Tuesday morning, several Chinese warships had remained close to unofficial dividing line since Monday, a source briefed on matter told Reuters.–Agencies