Latest news with #CVN-68
Newsweek
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Satellite Photo Shows US Aircraft Carrier in Pacific Rivalry With 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. The United States aircraft carrier USS Nimitz continues to operate in the South China Sea, satellite imagery shows, as the Chinese navy expands its presence in the Pacific Ocean. The Seventh Fleet—the largest of the U.S. Navy's forward-deployed fleets, with more than 50 vessels and 150 aircraft—delivers "combat-credible forces" in the western Pacific and Indian Oceans alongside the U.S.'s allies and partners, the Fleet said in a statement to Newsweek. Newsweek has also contacted the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment by email. Why It Matters The Nimitz began its "regularly scheduled deployment" to the western Pacific Ocean in late March—likely its final overseas mission before decommissioning. After a brief transit in the Strait of Malacca, the nuclear-powered warship returned to the South China Sea in late May. United States Navy sailors checking the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz in the South China Sea on June 2. United States Navy sailors checking the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz in the South China Sea on June 2. Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Franklyn Guage/U.S. Navy The U.S. aircraft carrier deployment in the South China Sea, where China's territorial claims overlap those of other regional countries, comes as the Chinese navy—the world's largest by hull count—has two aircraft carriers operating simultaneously in the broader western Pacific. What To Know According to satellite imagery captured on Sunday and shared by open-source intelligence researcher @MT_Anderson on X, formerly Twitter, the Nimitz was spotted operating in the West Philippine Sea, about 167 miles northeast of the disputed Scarborough Shoal. 🇺🇸Carrier Strike Group 11🇺🇸 CVN-68 is back in the West Philippine Sea, operating ~270km NE of 🇵🇭Scarborough Shoal (8 June 2025) Along with her are likely 2x Arleigh Burkes and potentially 1x 🇦🇺Hobart Class (?) Length is in the correct range and it doesn't look like a PLAN… — MT Anderson (@MT_Anderson) June 9, 2025 The maritime feature, under China's control since 2012, lies about 138 miles west of Luzon Island in the northern Philippines. Manila uses the term "West Philippine Sea" to refer to the portion of the South China Sea that falls within its 230-mile-wide exclusive economic zone. The most recently released official photos, taken on June 2, show the Nimitz underway in the South China Sea. The aircraft carrier's deployment demonstrates the U.S. Navy's unwavering commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, according to a photo caption. Meanwhile, the second American aircraft carrier deployed in the western Pacific Ocean, USS George Washington, was spotted departing its home port at Yokosuka naval base near Tokyo, Japan's capital, on Tuesday, according to photos taken by a local ship spotter. The George Washington returned to Yokosuka on June 4 following "routine operations" in nearby waters. The aircraft carrier and its naval aviators are preparing for their first patrol since returning to Japan—a U.S. ally—for a forward deployment almost eight months ago. What People Are Saying The U.S. Seventh Fleet said in a statement to Newsweek: "Every day the U.S. Pacific Fleet operates to protect the security, freedom, and prosperity for the United States and our allies and partners, reflecting our commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the region." The Seventh Fleet is one of two fleets—along with the Third Fleet—that report to the Pacific Fleet, whose command area extends from the Pacific Ocean to the Indian Ocean. U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Maximilian Clark, the commander of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group, said in April: "Operating forward as a strike group hones our ability to maintain persistent and capable forces at sea, always ready to provide our leaders with a broad spectrum of military capabilities to respond to any crisis or contingency." What Happens Next It remains to be seen whether the Nimitz will depart the South China Sea for the Philippine Sea—located east of the Philippines—to conduct operations with the George Washington.
Newsweek
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Satellite Photo Shows US Aircraft Carrier at China's Doorstep
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. Latest satellite imagery shows that the United States aircraft carrier USS Nimitz continues to operate in the South China Sea, where China's sovereignty claims cover most of the waters. Regarding the Nimitz's deployment in the South China Sea, the U.S. Seventh Fleet—which maintains U.S. naval presence in the Western Pacific Ocean—previously told Newsweek that the nuclear-powered ship "provides presence and combat-ready forces to the theater." Newsweek has also reached out to the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment by email. Why It Matters The U.S. Navy has the largest aircraft-carrier fleet in the world, with 11 vessels in service. They are regularly deployed overseas to demonstrate America's "unwavering commitment" to a free and open Indo-Pacific region, where China is challenging U.S. naval dominance. Tensions persist in the South China Sea as China's sovereignty claims—based on what it calls "historic rights"—overlap with those of neighboring nations, including the Philippines, a U.S. defense treaty ally, leading to standoffs and clashes at sea between the two sides. United States Navy sailors prepare for flight operations on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS "Nimitz" in the South China Sea on May 12, 2025. United States Navy sailors prepare for flight operations on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS "Nimitz" in the South China Sea on May 12, 2025. Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Franklyn M. Guage/U.S. Navy What To Know Open-source intelligence researcher @MT_Anderson said on X (formerly Twitter) that the Nimitz and its two escorting destroyers were spotted underway in the southern part of the South China Sea, about 310 miles west of Brunei on Tuesday, based on a satellite image. 🇺🇸Carrier Strike Group 11🇺🇸 CVN-68 and 2x of her 4x Arleigh Burke class destroyers are operating ~500 km W of 🇧🇳Brunei (13 May 2025) CSG 11 last spotted near 🇵🇭Scarborough Shoal on 9 May 2025@Schizointel — MT Anderson (@MT_Anderson) May 15, 2025 In a press release, the U.S. Navy confirmed that the aircraft carrier remained in the South China Sea, where it held a change-of-command ceremony for its carrier strike group on Wednesday. Commissioned in 1975, the Nimitz is the oldest American aircraft carrier in active service. It departed from its home port—Naval Base Kitsap in Bremerton, Washington—in late March for a deployment in the Western Pacific Ocean, likely on its final mission before retirement. Following its deployment in waters east of the Philippines, the Nimitz reached the South China Sea as early as May 3 and was seen underway west of Luzon in northern Philippines. Besides the Nimitz, a second U.S. aircraft carrier, USS George Washington, is stationed in the Western Pacific Ocean. As of Friday, it remained at its Yokosuka home port in Japan, according to a local government website that tracks port visits by U.S. nuclear-powered warships. What People Are Saying The U.S. Navy said: "[Nimitz Carrier Strike 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." Lin Jian, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said: "The current situation in the South China Sea is generally stable. There isn't any problem with the freedom of navigation and overflight that countries enjoy in accordance with the law." What Happens Next It remains to be seen whether the Nimitz will be redeployed from the Western Pacific Ocean to the Middle East, where two of its sister ships are currently stationed amid regional tensions.
