This week, a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier has arrived in the Western Pacific, while China’s carrier was sighted in the Taiwan Strait.
Recently heightened tensions between Israel and Iran, coupled with an increased U.S. military presence in the Middle East, created a “carrier gap” in the Western Pacific this summer, when two carriers were reassigned to the region.
The arrival of the new carrier in Japan reestablishes the U.S. presence in the contested waters near China, countering Beijing’s rapid naval expansion. Notably, the Chinese navy now has the largest number of hulls in the world.
Additionally, a Japanese destroyer being converted into a light aircraft carrier is currently conducting flight tests with American fighter jets off the U.S. West Coast.
U.S. Navy
USS George Washington: Western Pacific Ocean
The George Washington is now operating in the U.S. Seventh Fleet area, as reported by the Pentagon. This fleet covers a broad maritime region from the international date line, west of Hawaii, to the India-Pakistan border.
After departing San Diego, California, on October 8, the carrier is en route to Yokosuka, Japan, to take over from the USS Ronald Reagan, reinforcing U.S. naval presence in the Western Pacific.
USS Carl Vinson, USS Theodore Roosevelt, and USS Ronald Reagan: San Diego, California
The Carl Vinson recently returned to Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego and remains docked as of Thursday, based on live feeds.
The Theodore Roosevelt also returned mid-October following a nine-month deployment and is currently docked, while the Ronald Reagan briefly left but returned, scheduled for maintenance in March 2025.
USS Nimitz: Bremerton, Washington
The Nimitz arrived at Naval Base Kitsap last Friday after completing exercises in the Eastern Pacific, taking steps towards being deployment-ready again.
People’s Liberation Army Navy
CNS Liaoning: East China Sea
The Liaoning, China’s first operational aircraft carrier, was spotted moving north across the Taiwan Strait this week. The strait is the critical waterway separating Taiwan from mainland China.
Since being operationally deployed on September 17, the Liaoning has conducted multiple exercises in the Philippine Sea and South China Sea. Cloud cover recently obscured satellite monitoring of its home base in Qingdao.
CNS Shandong: South China Sea
The second Chinese carrier, the Shandong, has not yet returned to its home port in Sanya, suggesting it remains in the South China Sea amidst ongoing territorial disputes.
CNS Fujian: Shanghai
China’s newest carrier, the Fujian, is thought to still be at Shanghai’s Jiangnan Shipyard, with recent visibility issues due to cloud cover. The carrier underwent new sea trials in September.
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
JS Kaga: Eastern Pacific Ocean
The Kaga, currently being modified into a light aircraft carrier, started flight tests with F-35B stealth jets off southern California on October 20. These tests will demonstrate the ship’s advancements, including a heat-resistant flight deck and a redesigned bow.
