Map Shows Major US Naval Presence in West Pacific Amid China Rivalry

The United States has deployed several large naval units in the Western Pacific, where its main rival, China, recently bent down its military power with a deployment of the double aircraft carrier.

Based on official disclosure and satellite imagery, a Nowsweek The map follows the deployments of an American aircraft carrier, a missile submarine and two amphibious warships in the region.

Nowsweek sent an email to the seventh American fleet – which maintains the American naval presence in the Western Pacific and the Indian Oceans – and the Chinese Ministry of Defense of Comments.

Why it matters

In May, China – which has the largest navy in the world by the number of shells, with more than 370 ships – simultaneously deployed two aircraft carriers, CNS Liaon and cns ShandongIn the widening of the western Pacific, in a decision considered to be difficult for American naval domination.

While the Chinese navy extends its scope and its presence, the American navy has redeployed one of its aircraft carriers – Nimitz– from the Western Pacific to the Middle East, leaving the USS George Washington As the only American aircraft carrier in the region to help counter China.

What to know

THE George Washington was spotted in progress near the southwest islands of Japan in the Philippine Sea on Monday, according to a satellite image. The US Navy said the aircraft carrier leads a naval strike group on patrol in the seventh fleet operations area.

Officially published images show the George Washington—Homeport in Japan since November 2024 – Driver of flight operations with his fighter planes. The aircraft carrier is capable of deploying various planes, including the F / A-18E / F and the F-35C fighter hunting plane.

In a set of photos published on Sunday, USS Ohio– A guided missile submarine in Bangor, Washington – arrived at the Guam naval base on June 23. The island of Guam, the most west American territory serves as a transfer zone to project military power against China.

It marked the second time Ohio Has a stopover in Guam since April. The nuclear propulsion submarine can transport up to 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles – which have a range of 1,000 miles – and accommodate up to 66 special operations employees and their equipment.

The west coast-based submarine made “routine operations”, a legend of the photo read.

Meanwhile, the USS amphibious assault ship Tripoli Arrived in his new home port in Sasebo, Japan, June 23, following a trans-Pacific passage that started in San Diego, California on May 19. The warship is designed to transport hunting jets and the projection of the sea from the sea to the shore.

THE Tripoli is planned to replace the USS America– This sister ship is currently brought home in Sasebo. The navy said that this planned forces rotation will guarantee that it has the “most competent ships” which can quickly respond to the security environment in the Indo-Pacific region.

Since Sunday, the America carried out flight operations with his F-35B furtive planes while he was underway in the Coral Sea, off the northeast coast of Australia. The warship visited the Australian city of Sydney on June 14, accompanied by two other amphibious ships.

What people say

The American navy said in a video legend on June 27: “THE George Washington is the first aircraft carrier deployed from the American navy, a long-standing symbol of the United States’s commitment to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific region, while operating alongside allies and partners of the largest numbered fleet of the US Navy. “”

US Navy Captain Eddie Park, USS commander Tripolisaid in a press release on June 23: “Our sailors and marines are ready to join the team capable of naval forces deployed before and contribute to the security, stability and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region.”

What happens next

It remains to be seen whether the United States will deploy additional warships in the Western Pacific to maintain its presence while simultaneously leading missions in the Middle East.