Closely monitoring its movements, the Japan Self-Defense Forces reported that the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s aircraft carrier Shandong set sail Monday night from the Philippine Sea after a brief deployment, heading back toward the South China Sea, where it arrived on Tuesday. The news was shared by Japan’s Joint Staff Office, which provided a detailed account of the carrier’s activities, which occurred just days after the U.S. aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73) arrived at its new homeport on the island.
Providing further details, Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force deployed its destroyer JS Yugiri (DD-153) to track the Shandong, detecting via radar that the carrier was navigating alongside the cruiser CNS Yan’an (106) and the destroyer CNS Zhanjiang (165). While positioned 397 kilometers south of Miyako Island, the aircraft carrier launched its fighter jets with a total of ten take-offs, alongside ten helicopter take-offs; the exact motives for this deployment remain unclear.
One possible explanation could be a response to the “DAGIT-PA” Joint Exercise conducted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). This exercise involves the country’s Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines, aiming to “strengthen the AFP’s capabilities in land, air, and maritime operations.” Notably, the exercise is being held along the northwestern coast of Luzon Island and Palawan Island, extending until the 15th of this month; the Chinese deployment took place along the northeastern coast.
Meanwhile, the USS George Washington was conducting a maritime patrol en route to its new base in Yokosuka, where it will take over from the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) within Japan’s Forward-Deployed Naval Forces. An official statement issued by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated: “As the security environment in the region becomes increasingly severe, maintaining a strong presence of the U.S. Navy through the forward deployment of the USS George Washington and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 is essential for Japan’s security and the maintenance of regional peace and stability. Japan highly values the role of the U.S. Seventh Fleet in achieving these objectives.”
Finally, closing a long series of naval movements in the region, it should also be noted that the Russian Navy has deployed forces within the framework of the “Orruda 2024” exercises, conducted jointly with elements of the Indonesian Navy. Specifically, the Russian vessels deployed include the corvettes RFS Gromkiy (335), RFS Hero of the Russian Federation Aldar Tsydenzhapov (339), and RFS Rezkiy (343), accompanied by the tanker Pechenga (from the Russian Navy) alongside the frigate KRI I Gusti Ngurah Rai (332) and the corvette KRI Frans Kaisiepo (368) from Indonesia. Additionally, the submarine RFS Ufa (B-588) is also nearby for a visit to the Indonesian Navy’s 2nd Fleet Command Headquarters.
Images used for illustrative purposes
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