China-US tension: aircraft carrier tag team shows America strengthening Indo-Pacific presence
- Analyst questions whether the US will move its troops, equipment and weapon systems deployed in Afghanistan to the Indo-Pacific
- China’s military experts and shipbuilders closely watched the US Navy’s explosive full ship shock trial on the USS Ford for possible lessons
The Carl Vinson group, which received a major 17-month upgrade, including new F-35C Lightning II and CMW-22B Osprey aircraft, has been conducting drills near Hawaii with other combat units since last week as it prepares for an upcoming deployment to the Indo-Pacific region, according to a US Navy statement on Tuesday.
The Vinson’s training near Hawaii was seen as a show of US military presence in the region with the new deployment coming amid strains in the relationship between the US and China, the US Naval Institute reported on its website. American officials have repeatedly characterised China as the American military’s “pacing threat”.
“The deployment of two carrier strike groups – or one CSG and one expeditionary strike group supported by America-class amphibious assault ships in the region – became normal combinations for the US over the past two years,” Lu said.
“The most remarkable thing is, will the US move its troops, equipment and weapon systems they had deployed in Afghanistan to the Indo-Pacific in future.”