The US Navy has deployed two aircraft carriers in the western Pacific Ocean as tensions mount before an international court’s ruling on China’s maritime claims in the South China Sea.
The Nimitz-class supercarriers, USS Ronald Reagan and USS John C. Stennis, and their accompanying warships conducted air defense and sea surveillance operations in the Philippine Sea on Saturday, the US Pacific Command said in a statement.
The training drill also involved 12,000 sailors, 140 aircraft and six smaller warships.
“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 statement said.
“While at sea, the strike groups conducted air defense drills, sea surveillance, replenishments at sea, defensive air combat training, long range strikes, coordinated maneuvers and other exercises,”…