US Stealth Jet Carrier Patrols Waters Near China
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
An American amphibious warship—capable of carrying stealth fighter aircraft—has been patrolling the East China Sea, where Japan, a United States ally, has territorial disputes with China.
Newsweek has contacted the Chinese Ministry of Defense for comment via email.
Why It Matters
The East China Sea lies to the west of the First Island Chain—formed by Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines. This defensive line, conceived as part of a U.S. containment strategy, aims to restrict China's access to the wider Pacific Ocean by using U.S.-aligned territories.
Japan has accused China of constructing a structure in the East China Sea for potential fossil fuel production, violating an unimplemented agreement. Meanwhile, China has claimed Japan's Senkaku Islands in the region—also known as the Diaoyu Islands—as its territory.
What To Know
According to photos released by the U.S. Navy, the amphibious assault ship USS America—homeported in Sasebo, Japan—conducted flight operations with a group of F-35B stealth fighter jets while underway at an undisclosed location in the East China Sea on Tuesday.
An amphibious warship is a vessel designed to transport and deploy troops, vehicles, and equipment from the sea to land during amphibious operations.
Two United States Marine Corps F-35B fighter jets prepare to land on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS America in the East China Sea on May 20, 2025.
Two United States Marine Corps F-35B fighter jets prepare to land on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS America in the East China Sea on May 20, 2025.
Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Sam McNeely/U.S. Navy
The America, with a full displacement of about 45,000 tons, was spotted departing Sasebo the previous day. It arrived in the Philippine Sea—located to the east of the First Island Chain—on Wednesday and continued to support flight operations of U.S. Marine Corps fighter jets.
It was not immediately clear whether this will be the America's final deployment in the Western Pacific Ocean prior to its planned homeport shift to San Diego in California. The warship is scheduled to be replaced by its sister ship, the San Diego-based USS Tripoli.
Meanwhile, the Tripoli left its home port on Monday and arrived at Seal Beach—located north of San Diego—the following day. The U.S. Navy has yet to announce the official departure dates for either of the two amphibious warships from their respective home ports.
USS Tripoli (LHA 7) America-class amphibious assault ship coming into Seal Beach, California - May 20, 2025
SRC: TW-@BulletOneOneTwo pic.twitter.com/e5szAjeCHO — WarshipCam (@WarshipCam) May 20, 2025
The rotation of U.S. amphibious warships comes amid an expansion of China's amphibious fleet in support of potential island-landing operations in contested waters such as the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea.
A flotilla of five Chinese naval vessels—including a Type 075 amphibious assault ship—was observed by the Japan Self-Defense Forces last week transiting the Miyako Strait in Japan's southwestern waters, moving from the East China Sea into the Philippine Sea.
What People Are Saying
The public affairs office of the U.S. amphibious assault ship USS America said: "America, lead ship of the America Amphibious Ready Group, is operating in the U.S. [Seventh] Fleet area of operations. U.S. [Seventh] Fleet is the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region."
The U.S. Pacific Fleet previously said: "The forward presence of [USS] Tripoli supports the United States' commitment to the defense of Japan, enhances the national security of the United States and improves its ability to protect strategic interests. Tripoli will directly support the Defense Strategic Guidance to posture the most capable units forward in the Indo-Pacific Region."
What Happens Next
It remains uncertain whether the America will enter the South China Sea, where China's sweeping sovereignty claims overlap with those of several neighboring countries.
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