Meanwhile, China’s People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLAN) recently conducted live-fire exercises in disputed South China Sea waters, flexing its Harbin Z-9 helicopters and advanced anti-ship missiles during simulated war games, reports Asia Times.

The exercises took place in Sanya, the southern tip of Hainan island, from where China launched its first domestically-built Shandong aircraft carrier last December, reports the news portal.

It’s not clear the Biden administration will take the developments lying down, however. Jake Sullivan, Biden’s pick for national security adviser, has recently called for the intensification of Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOPs) against China in the South China Sea, marking a potential escalation of Trump’s policy, reports the news portal.

“We should be devoting more assets and resources to ensuring and reinforcing, and holding up alongside our partners, the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea,” Sullivan during a podcast hosted by a Center for a New American Security fellow was quoted as saying by the news portal.