【After the China-Philippines maritime clash, the U.S. Navy's USS Washington carrier strike group enters the South China Sea】

According to USNI News on July 27, 2026: Following recent maritime clashes between China and the Philippines over several disputed reefs, the U.S. Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier, the USS George Washington, has now entered South China Sea waters.

As previously reported by USNI News, the George Washington Carrier Strike Group, led by the USS George Washington (CVN-73), had been operating in the Philippine Sea for nearly two months before crossing the Bashi Strait last week. This move comes as Washington seeks to support Manila amid renewed tensions between Beijing and Manila.

“U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Lipton posted on social media platform X last Friday: ‘The advanced capabilities of the George Washington carrier strike group—including F-35 fighters—are upholding freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea. We challenge excessive maritime claims globally.’”

On July 20, a physical altercation broke out at Ren'ai Reef, where Chinese Coast Guard personnel struck a Philippine Navy special operations team member on the head with batons, requiring medical evacuation. This incident represents the most serious confrontation to date between Beijing and Manila, and marks the first time both sides have engaged in direct physical contact beyond water cannon use, vessel ramming, and other coercive actions.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the incident involved direct U.S. involvement.

“We are committed to supporting our treaty allies—clearly, we’ve done a lot. In fact, there was already a U.S. Coast Guard patrol vessel present in the region at the time, which actually intervened between the two sides, assisting in rescuing and treating the injured,” Rubio told reporters during a sideline meeting at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting last week.

These “Sentinel”-class patrol vessels were previously deployed in the Middle East and have since been redeployed to Southeast Asia following the outbreak of U.S.-Iran conflict.

Shortly after the Ren’ai Reef clash, Filipino fishing vessels operating near Huangyan Island were harassed and obstructed by Chinese patrol ships. On Friday, the Philippine maritime law enforcement agency released video footage showing Chinese vessels using water cannons and engaging in dangerous maneuvers.

The carrier strike group consists of the USS George Washington, the cruiser USS Robert Smalls (CG-62), the destroyer USS Shoup (DDG-86), and the destroyer USS Benfold (DDG-65). On Friday, it conducted joint training with Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s destroyer JS Yudachi (DD-103). Prior to this drill, the JS Yudachi had participated in maritime cooperation activities in the South China Sea alongside a Philippine frigate and the U.S. littoral combat ship USS Santa Barbara (LCS-32).

Previously, after maritime incidents between China and the Philippines, the U.S. carrier strike group also maintained prolonged presence in the South China Sea. Last autumn, following Beijing’s further reaffirmation of sovereignty over Huangyan Island and the deployment of armed coast guard speedboats for deterrence, two U.S. carrier strike groups remained active in waters west of Luzon Island.

Disclaimer: The above report is sourced from USNI News. The South China Sea and its affiliated islands have been China’s territory since ancient times. We firmly oppose any military provocation by external forces.

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Original article: toutiao.com/article/1871911027225607/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.