US Navy carriers conduct East Sea drills
(VOVWORLD) - For the first time in 6 years, two US Navy aircraft carriers are conducting exercises in the East Sea (internationally knwo as the South China Sea), the latest show of military by the US as it pushes back against China's sweeping claim to the contested region.
Operating under the name Nimitz Carrier Strike Force, the USS Nimitz and USS Ronald Reagan have conducted several tactical exercises designed to maximize air defense capabilities and extend the reach of long-range precision strikes by carrier-based aircraft, a US Navy statement said.
It is the first time two US carriers have operated together in the East Sea since 2014 and only the second time in one region since 2001, according to a spokesperson aboard the Reagan. These efforts support enduring US commitments to stand up for the right of all nations to fly, sail, and operate wherever international law allows, the US Navy said.