China is making sure US carrier strike groups stay in the Pacific rather than go to the Middle East. The fleet tracker from USNI shows 4 carrier strike groups deployed right now.
https://news.usni.org/2024/06/17/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-june-17-2024
The Reagan and Roosevelt are in the Pacific. The George Washington is visiting South America and will head to Japan to take over the Reagan's spot as the permanently forward deployed carrier in Japan.
Tensions this month are growing in the South China Sea. "Chinese personnel on board more than eight motorboats repeatedly rammed then boarded the two Philippine navy inflatable boats Monday to prevent Filipino navy personnel from transferring food and other supplies including firearms to a Philippine territorial outpost in Second Thomas Shoal, which is also claimed by Beijing, according to Philippine officials." (June 20)
As long as tension run high then the US carriers can't go to the Red Sea to help out the Eisenhower which has been extended twice. I think the ramming by the Chinese forces might be deliberate by China as a support action for Gaza.
Posted by: westernpacific | Jun 20 2024 13:51 utc
