USS Reagan Strike Group Enters Heavily Disputed South China Sea
Posted on 06/15/2021 8:29:27 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
TAIPEI—A U.S. aircraft carrier group led by the USS Ronald Reagan has entered the South China Sea as part of a routine mission, the U.S. Navy said on Tuesday, at a time of rising tensions between Washington and Beijing, which claims most the disputed waterway.
China frequently objects to U.S. military missions in the South China Sea, and the announcement follows China blasting the Group of Seven nations for a statement scolding Beijing over a range of issues.
“While in the South China Sea, the strike group is conducting maritime security operations, which include flight operations with fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, maritime strike exercises, and coordinated tactical training between surface and air units,” the U.S. Navy said.
“Carrier operations in the South China Sea are part of the U.S. Navy’s routine presence in the Indo-Pacific.”
The carrier is being accompanied by the guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh and the guided-missile destroyer USS Halsey, it added.
China has ramped up its military presence in the South China Sea in recent years, including building artificial islands and air bases.
The South China Sea has become one of many flashpoints in the relationship between China and the United States, with Washington rejecting what it calls unlawful territorial claims by Beijing in the resource-rich waters.
U.S. warships have passed through the South China Sea with increasing frequency in recent years, in a show of force against the Chinese claims.
(Excerpt) Read more at theepochtimes.com ...
Way to go, Gipper!
I don’t know why, but whenever anybody brings up the subject of today’s U.S. Navy, the phrase, “Rip the shirt — how cliché !” pops into my head.
And an SSN, no doubt.
Hope the girls aren’t driving..........at least after dark.
A large part of the US fleet is in the area. So is the Japanese fleet and carriers from the UK and France and their support ships. Been there quite a while.
Girls just wanna have fun...
“A large part of the US fleet is in the area. So is the Japanese fleet and carriers from the UK and France and their support ships. Been there quite a while.”
__________
A large part of what fleet? The 7th? The Pacific Fleet?
It doesn’t appear that you are referring to an exercise. RimPac occurs biennially. The last one was in 2020. The next is scheduled to occur in 2022. Planning meetings are taking place this month. It was kind of a dud in 2020 because of COVID.
Are you referring to deployed ships? Or maybe ships homeported in or visiting Yokuska, Japan?
I only ask because a U.S. nuclear aircraft carrier operating in the South China Sea seemed like kind of a big deal to me. Something that doesn’t necessarily happen every day. Or every year even. But your comment suggests otherwise.
This is only news to people who don’t follow the alternative news sights. The rest of us have known for months. I wonder when the MSM will get around to announcing we have three naval groups off the West Coast and two off the East coast? Just in case any foreign actors get a wild hare while the US sorts itself out.
Thanks for this.
Just learned about Doris Miller, the enlisted sailor after which one of our future CVN carriers is named. Very impressive fellow.
Unbelievable pace of operations these carriers and their Crews are forced to endure by the way. It seems like way too much work, with seemingly zero liberty for the crew, during deployments lasting almost an entire year. The strain must be extreme for the sailors and their families, ostensibly during peacetime.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.