Officers on the Japanese-based Reagan described frequent close quarter surveillance from the ships of the People’s Liberation Army Navy in international waters.
Sometimes, they said, Chinese vessels steam in to check out the carrier en route to other destinations. Other times, Chinese frigates linger for days within the screen of U.S. ships and planes that protect the Reagan - Washington’s only carrier-based outside America.
At times, the carrier crew, to ensure safe passage, will alert their uninvited Chinese escorts, should the Reagan sharply alter course, officers said.
“We’ve had no issues. They’ve been very professional,” said Rear Admiral Marc Dalton, commander of the Reagan’s strike group, as well as the larger battle forces of the U.S. Seventh Fleet. “We see them on a regular basis,” he said.
Deployment Strains
As Dalton spoke, the midnight blue waters beyond the flight decks made for a crowded scene, with a U.S. and an allied Japanese destroyer also visible as the Reagan maneuvered some 400 nautical miles (748 kilometers) from the Chinese coast.The situation has unfolded as U.S. naval chiefs review operations to draw lessons from four significant accidents within the U.S. Pacific Fleet this year.
A report this month by the U.S. Government Accountability Office highlighted a host of training and maintenance problems as the navy strove to expand overseas deployments and improve operational readiness.
Dalton will soon lead the carrier to a port call in Chinese-ruled Hong Kong - the first such visit in three years after a stop by another carrier was denied in 2016.
Dominant Presence
Routinely carrying between 60-70 aircraft on board, the carrier sends between 80-100 sorties daily - the core of a dominant U.S. military presence in Asia that analysts believe China could still take years to supplant.In recent months, the 100,000-ton Reagan has exercised with allied Australian ships as well as Japanese forces.
Rear Admiral Dalton acknowledged the challenges and top-level reviews but insisted the task force was long used to keeping itself in full readiness.
“As a forward deployed force. . . We are already where we need to be to execute our missions all the time,” he said.
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