US military flexes nuclear muscles in South China Sea to support ally

A pair of nuclear-capable B-52 bombers were tracked taking off from the U.S. territory of Guam and rounding the southern part of the Philippines Thursday, one day after President Joe Biden underscored support for the U.S. ally amid heightened tensions between its coast guard and Chinese forces in nearby waters.

In the latest escalation in the South China Sea, most of which China claims as its territory, Chinese coast guard and Maritime Militia vessels on Sunday attempted to block Philippine ships from resupplying a marine outpost on the disputed Second Thomas shoal. The resulting collisions damaged a supply ship and a Philippine coast guard escort, sparking a diplomatic uproar in Manila.