Latest news with #navaloperations
CTV News
5 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
U.S. briefly deploys 2 warships to a disputed South China Sea shoal after Chinese collision
In this photo, provided by the Philippine Coast Guard, United States Navy USS Higgins (DDG 76) conducts freedom of navigation operations (FONOP) at the South China Sea on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. (Philippine Coast Guard via AP) MANILA, Philippines — The United States deployed two warships on Wednesday in a disputed South China Sea shoal, where two Chinese navy and coast guard ships collided two days ago while trying to drive away a smaller Philippine ship in a high-seas accident captured on video, alarming several Western and Asian countries. Both China and the Philippines claim Scarborough Shoal and other outcroppings in the South China Sea. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also lay overlapping claims in the contested waters. The USS Higgins, a guided missile destroyer, and USS Cincinnati, a littoral combat ship, were shadowed by a Chinese navy ship while sailing about 30 nautical miles (55 kilometres) from the Scarborough Shoal. There were no reports of any untoward incident, Philippine coast guard Commodore Jay Tarriela said, citing information from U.S. officials and a Philippine surveillance flight. The U.S. navy has staged what it calls freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea for years to challenge China's restrictions and demand for entry notifications in virtually the entire stretch of the disputed waters that it claims. That has angered China and its forces have had close runs-in with U.S. warships and aircraft on such patrols in international waters and airspace. The deployment happened after Washington's ambassador to Manila, MaryKay Carlson, condemned on Tuesday 'the latest reckless action by China directed against a Philippine vessel' in Scarborough. The rich fishing atoll off the northwestern Philippines has been the scene of increasingly tense confrontations between the Chinese and Philippine coast guard, fishing and other ships in recent years. The Philippines is the oldest treaty ally of the U.S. in Asia. Washington has repeatedly warned that it's obligated to defend the Philippines if Filipino forces come under an armed attack, including in the South China Sea. On Monday, a Chinese navy destroyer and a Chinese coast guard ship accidentally collided while trying to block and drive away a smaller Philippine coast guard ship, the BRP Suluan, about 10.5 nautical miles (19 kilometres) from Scarborough. Video footages made public by the Philippine coast guard show the Chinese coast guard ship blasting its powerful water cannon and a number of Chinese personnel standing at the bow shortly before that section was hit by the fast-turning Chinese navy ship. Shortly after the collision, the video shows the heavily shattered bow of the Chinese coast guard ship without the Chinese personnel, who were standing on deck before the crash. The Chinese navy ship sustained deep dents and what appeared to be linear gushes on its hull. Japan, Australia and New Zealand expressed alarm on Wednesday over the dangerous maneuvers that led to the collision in the busy waters, a key global trade route. 'Japan upholds the rule of law and opposes any actions which increase tensions. Our concern goes to the repeated actions in the South China Sea,' Japanese Ambassador to Manila Endo Kazuya said in a post on X. The Australian Embassy in Manila expressed concern 'by the dangerous and unprofessional conduct of Chinese vessels near Scarborough Shoal involving the Philippine Coast Guard,' saying in a statement the incident 'highlights the need for de-escalation, restraint and respect for international law.' 'This is a learning experience for the People's Republic of China,' Tarriela, the Philippine coast guard commodore, told a news conference in Manila. 'For so many years, we have been reminding them to stop dangerous maneuvers, to stop risky blockings, to adhere to the (anti-)collision regulations because if there is a very high chance of miscalculation, this kind of collision incident would happen.' Tarriela spoke a few hours after a Chinese fighter jet flew as close as 152 metres to try to drive away a Philippine coast guard plane on a surveillance flight on Wednesday over the Scarborough with invited journalists on board. The Chinese jet carried out dangerous manoeuvres for about 20 minutes, including flying about 61 metres above the small Philippine aircraft, Tarriela said. ___ Associated Press writers Joeal Calupitan and Aaron Favila in Manila, Philippines, contributed to this report. Jim Gomez, The Associated Press
CBS News
02-07-2025
- CBS News
Pease airport in New Hampshire will see increased military aircraft activity. Here's why.
People in the seacoast area of New Hampshire are being warned that they may see an increase in military aircraft operations in the coming weeks near Portsmouth International Airport at Pease. According to the airport, there will be additional military aircrafts through July 15. The aircrafts will be in the area for Atlantic Alliance 2025, which is described as "a large-scale, multinational military training exercise involving U.S. Navy and Marine Corps forces and allied partners from the Netherlands and the United Kingdom." The naval integration exercise is used to rehearse various scenarios to help prepare different units from states spanning North Carolina to Maine. As part of the event, the airport "will support an increase tempo of flight activity." That will include "amphibious assaults, naval maneuver exercises, and expeditionary support missions." "We recognize that this increased military activity may cause temporary noise disruptions for our neighbors. But we ask everyone to keep in mind, Portsmouth International Airport plays an integral role in global security," said Paul Brean, executive director of the Pease Development Authority. "Even though this training exercise will encompass an enormous geographic area off the eastern seaboard, our airfield is a critical strategic asset, similar to our role in real-world events. As a joint-use commercial military airport, Portsmouth has an unwavering commitment to the Department of Defense and our global partners." Most of the increased takeoffs and landings will take place during the day, though the airport said it's possible there will be some flights at night.
The Independent
10-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
What the discovery of Chinese warships in the Pacific signals about Beijing's intentions
The Japanese navy spotted two Chinese aircraft carriers, Liaoning and Shandong, operating simultaneously in the Pacific Ocean, marking the first such occurrence and signalling China's intent to expand its naval capabilities. The Shandong strike group was seen operating fighter jets and helicopters about 500km southwest of Iwo Jima, while the Liaoning group was located 300km southwest of Minamitori Island. The carriers were beyond Japan's second chain islands, a strategic group of islands in the West Pacific seen as the second line of defence against potential Chinese military escalation. Japan dispatched warships and aircraft to monitor the Chinese operations, with defence minister Gen Nakatani stating Japan's commitment to deter any forceful changes to the regional status quo. China's foreign ministry defended the presence of its aircraft carriers, asserting that the activities are consistent with international law.
RNZ News
29-05-2025
- General
- RNZ News
New Zealand-led taskforce seizes $1b worth of drugs in Arabian sea
Photo: Kipion A New Zealand-led naval task force has made its highest value drug bust of the year, seizing $1 billion worth of drugs in the Middle East. Among the seized drugs were one tonne of heroin, 660 kilograms of hashish and 6kg of amphetamine. British Royal Navy frigate HMS Lancaster last week identified a suspicious sailing ship in the North Arabian Sea as part of its operations in the Combined Maritime Task Force 150 (CTF 150). The New Zealand Defence Force said Royal Marines boarded the dhow while a Wildcat helicopter with a Royal Marine sniper team covered them. Once the six crew were secured, the marines found 50 packages containing 1000 kilograms of heroin, 55 packages containing 660 kilograms of hashish and 6 kilograms of amphetamine tablets. The drugs were taken back to the ship for testing and disposal. Royal Navy frigate HMS Lancaster, part of New Zealand-led CTF 150, has seized NZ$1 billion worth of illegal drugs in the Arabian Sea. Photo: NZDF Lancaster Commanding Officer, Commander Chris Chew, praised his crew's motivation, commitment and dedication. "This is another example of where Lancaster has delivered at range, in isolation, utilising her own organic assets," he said. CTF 150's commander, Royal New Zealand Navy Commodore Rodger Ward said it was the highest value narcotics interception made since New Zealand took command of CTF 150 this year. "Conducting maritime interdictions requires a team effort from the men and women here in the headquarters in Bahrain reaching through to those out on the oceans disrupting drug smuggling operations at the coal face," he said. "I'd like to acknowledge the 210-strong ship's company from Lancaster for continuing to get amongst it day-after-day. "Everyone in the team can be proud of their efforts to disrupt the criminal and terrorist organisations that continue to use illicit narcotics to fund their activities and this is a significant blow to their revenue stream." Royal Navy frigate HMS Lancaster, part of New Zealand-led CTF 150, has seized NZ$1 billion worth of illegal drugs in the Arabian Sea. Photo: NZDF CTF 150 was one of five operational task forces under the Combined Maritime Forces based in Bahrain and focussed on maritime security in the Middle East, particularly disrupting drug smuggling. Collectively CTF 150 and its partners had now seized narcotics worth $1.8 billion, Ward said. "Furthermore, we estimate that our presence and the intelligence collected from our operations has resulted in the disruption of nearly three times that amount," he said. Royal New Zealand Navy frigate HMNZS Te Kaha was also deployed to CTF 150 over the past two months, conducting similar operations as Lancaster . Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
