US warships shadowed in South China Sea by military vessels in satellite pic after Beijing unveils new anti-sub drone

CHINESE warships have been shadowing aircraft carriers from the US and UK while traveling through the South China Sea, according to chilling satellite imagery taken on Tuesday. Elements of the US Navy’s and Royal Navy’s strike groups were seen off the coast of the Philippines on Tuesday as seen by images shared by Duan Dang, a maritime observer from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Duan Dang/TwitterSatellite imagery shows unidentified warships believed to belong to China[/caption] GettyUS and UK forces were partaking in military exercises nearby Taiwan[/caption] Nearby were several warships believed to be part of China’s People’s Liberation Army. The HMS Queen Elizabeth was scheduled to take part in maritime exercises with ships and aircraft from allied nations. The US arrived at the South China Sea on Monday after two days of drills near Taiwan and Okinawa. In response, dozens of military jets were flown by Beijing near southwest Taiwan.  The flights continued in the Bashi Channel with over 50 aircraft as US and UK forces traveled to the South China Sea. US State Department spokesman Ned Price called China’s response “provocative” – adding that the act “undermines regional peace and stability.” “We urge Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic, and economic pressure and coercion against Taiwan,” he said. Most read in World News GLOBAL THREAT China vows to ‘fight to the death’ against Taiwan’s allies after WW3 warning SQUAT HORROR Girl, 14, 'permanently disabled' after being made to do 150 SQUATS by teacher SCARRED FOR LIFE Allergy leaves baby fighting for life with blisters over 70% of her body NEVER FREE Tragic tale of killer whale Keiko who starred in Free Willy before dying alone BLOWN TO BITS Russian war games ‘shoot down 50 planes’ in chilling warning to the West APE HELL How baby Donald became ‘more ape than man’ in experiment before killing himself “In my opinion, the surge of military aircraft may signify how much Beijing had been irritated over the recent gathering of US and UK carrier strike groups near Taiwan.” wrote Duan in his newsletter. Similar responses are expected to happen the next time a US aircraft enters the Bashi Channel, Duan says.  In September, China unveiled the CH-6, an anti-submarine drone at an airshow in Zhuhai. Japanese Maritime Self-Defense PhotoDuan believes Beijing may have been irritated in response to US and UK aircraft gathering[/caption] ReutersChinese anti-submarine drones were unveiled at an airshow last month[/caption] We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The US Sun team? Email us at exclusive@the-sun.com or call 212 416 4552. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheSunUS and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunUS