Latest news with #GeoffreyL.Ottinger
Newsweek
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
US and China's Aircraft Carriers Show Force in Contested Waters
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 and China have deployed aircraft carriers in the South China Sea—where the sovereignty claims of several countries overlap—as they compete for naval dominance. USS George Washington was patrolling the U.S. Seventh Fleet's area of operations—which refers to the western Pacific and Indian Oceans—with a strike group, the U.S. Navy said. Meanwhile, CNS Shandong and three other Chinese warships were visiting Hong Kong—a special administrative region of China located in the northern part of the South China Sea. Why It Matters The Chinese navy—the world's largest by hull count—is expanding China's military presence beyond its surrounding waters, including through the deployment of two aircraft carriers—the Shandong and CNS Liaoning—in the broader western Pacific in June. The U.S. Navy operates the largest fleet of aircraft carriers in the world, with 11 vessels in service. The U.S. military regularly conducts operations in the South China Sea—where China's territorial claims cover most of the waters—to assert freedom of navigation. What To Know Photos released by the U.S. Navy show the George Washington conducting flight operations with its aircraft in the South China Sea on Tuesday. The aircraft carrier—homeported in Japan—was operating near Japan's southwestern islands in the Philippine Sea the previous day. According to Philippine media, the U.S. aircraft carrier was operating in the West Philippine Sea—a geographic term used by the Philippines to refer to the portion of the South China Sea that lies within the Southeast Asian country's 230-mile-wide exclusive economic zone. Embarked media from the Philippines observe flight operations on the USS George Washington in the South China Sea on July 2, 2025. Embarked media from the Philippines observe flight operations on the USS George Washington in the South China Sea on July 2, 2025. Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Geoffrey L. Ottinger/U.S. Navy The George Washington is the second U.S. aircraft carrier to operate in the South China Sea in recent months, following its sister ship, USS Nimitz, which conducted "maritime security operations" in the region in early June before being redeployed toward the Middle East. While the George Washington was sailing near the Philippines, a Chinese naval group led by the Shandong arrived in Hong Kong on Thursday for a five-day visit. Several fighter jets and helicopters were seen parked on the flight deck as the Shandong sailed into the city's harbor. The Chinese aircraft carrier's visit comes as Hong Kong—a former British colony—marks the 28th anniversary of its return to China. Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee described the Chinese naval visit as "particularly inspiring." It was not immediately clear whether the Shandong would conduct any operations in the South China Sea following its visit. The aircraft carrier is homeported in Sanya, on China's southern island of Hainan—also located in the northern part of the South China Sea. The Chinese aircraft carrier CNS Shandong sails into Hong Kong on July 3, 2025. The Chinese aircraft carrier CNS Shandong sails into Hong Kong on July 3, 2025. Chan Long Hei/AP Photo What People Are Saying The U.S. Navy said: "George Washington is the U.S. Navy's premier forward-deployed aircraft carrier, a long-standing symbol of the United States' commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region, while operating alongside allies and partners across the U.S. Navy's largest numbered fleet." John Lee, the chief executive of Hong Kong, said at a welcoming ceremony on Thursday: "The visit of the Shandong warship formation to Hong Kong will allow Hong Kong citizens to experience first-hand the grandeur and sophistication of the country's modern warships and better understand the achievements of national defense modernization." What Happens Next It remains to be seen how long the George Washington will remain deployed in the South China Sea. It is currently the only U.S. aircraft carrier positioned to help counter China.
Newsweek
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
US Aircraft Carrier USS George Washington Counters China Navy Presence
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. Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington is on patrol in the western Pacific, where China has been expanding its naval presence. Newsweek has contacted the Chinese defense and foreign ministries for comment by email. Why It Matters The George Washington is one of the U.S. Navy vessels homeported in Japan. The aircraft carrier, which is equipped with F-35C stealth fighter jets, returned to Yokosuka naval base near Tokyo in November 2024 after undergoing maintenance and upgrades in Virginia. The George Washington's first patrol since returning to Japan comes as two Chinese aircraft carriers were deployed simultaneously to the wider western Pacific for the first time earlier in June, marking a major milestone in China's efforts to challenge U.S. naval dominance. Another U.S. aircraft carrier, USS Nimitz, has been redeployed to the Middle East from the western Pacific amid the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict. This leaves the George Washington as the only U.S. aircraft carrier currently positioned to help keep China in check as of Monday. What To Know Officially released photos show the George Washington and its carrier strike group transiting the Philippine Sea on Monday. The U.S. Navy said the aircraft carrier is currently on patrol in the Seventh Fleet's operating area, which covers the western Pacific and Indian Oceans. The USS George Washington transits the Philippine Sea on June 15, 2025. The USS George Washington transits the Philippine Sea on June 15, 2025. Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Geoffrey L. Ottinger/U.S. Navy The Philippine Sea lies east of the First Island Chain—a defensive line formed by Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines as part of a U.S. containment strategy aimed at restricting the Chinese navy—the world's largest by hull count—in the western Pacific in the event of war. In addition to the George Washington, which left its home port on June 10, the carrier strike group includes two other warships—the cruiser USS Robert Smalls and the destroyer USS Shoup. It remains unclear whether the George Washington will also be sent to the Middle East, should the situation there worsen. The Nimitz is expected to relieve its sister ship, USS Carl Vinson, in the region, allowing the latter to return home, U.S. Naval Institute News reported. The Chinese aircraft carriers CNS Liaoning and CNS Shandong remained underway in waters east of the Philippines as of Monday, each leading a naval task group and transiting westward, according to a map provided by Japan's Defense Ministry. What People Are Saying The U.S. Navy said on Tuesday: "George Washington is the U.S. Navy's premier forward-deployed aircraft carrier, a long-standing symbol of the United States' commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region, while operating alongside allies and partners across the U.S. Navy's largest numbered fleet." U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's said at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on May 31: "China seeks to become a hegemonic power in Asia. No doubt. It hopes to dominate and control too many parts of this vibrant and vital region. Through its massive military build-up and growing willingness to use military force to achieve its goals…China has demonstrated that it wants to fundamentally alter the region's status quo." What Happens Next It remains to be seen whether USS America—a U.S. amphibious assault ship equipped with F-35B stealth fighter jets—will depart the South Pacific for the western Pacific to reinforce the U.S. naval presence in the region following the Nimitz's departure.
