In a move aimed at reassuring allies jittery about China and the U.S. commitment to Asia, the USS John C. Stennis and USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier strike groups conducted dual flight operations in the Philippine Sea on Friday.
The ships and aircraft assigned to both strike groups began “coordinated operations in international waters demonstrating the United States’ unique capability to operate multiple carrier strike groups in close proximity,” the Navy said in a news release.
The strike groups conducted air defense drills, sea surveillance, replenishments at sea, defensive air combat training, long-range strike practice, coordinated maneuvers and other exercises.
“This is a great opportunity for us to train in a high-end scenario,” said Rear Adm. John D. Alexander, commander of Carrier Strike Group 5, which includes the Reagan. “We must take advantage of these opportunities to practice war-fighting techniques that are required to prevail in modern naval operations.”
The Navy characterized the operations as a “double down” of forces in the region — albeit a temporary one. In the face of an increasingly assertive China, allies and friendly nations have questioned the U.S. commitment to the “re-balance” to the Pacific, and sought an ever-greater U.S. presence.
The two-carrier drills in the Philippine Sea also presage an upcoming arbitration ruling before the international tribunal in the Hague, Netherlands, over Philippine accusations that China has engaged in excessive claims in the South China Sea. The much-anticipated ruling is expected to go against China.
“As a Pacific nation and a Pacific leader, the United States has a national interest in maintaining security and prosperity, peaceful resolution of disputes, unimpeded lawful commerce, and adherence to freedom of navigation and overflight throughout the shared domains of the Indo-Asia-Pacific,” the Navy said of the carrier drills.
Rear Adm. Marcus A. Hitchcock, commander of Carrier Strike Group 3, with the aircraft carrier Stennis, said, “No other navy can concentrate this much combat power on one sea or synchronize the activities of over 12,000 sailors, 140 aircraft, six combatants and two carriers.”
The Navy noted that its aircraft carriers have conducted dual carrier strike group operations in recent years in the Western Pacific, including the South China Sea, East China Sea and Philippine Sea.
