US aircraft carrier supports the Philippines, the Lincoln aircraft carrier opens fire fiercely on Huangyan Island, a detail exposes its nervousness!
On January 8th, the U.S. Navy's "Lincoln" aircraft carrier (CVN-72) conducted a live-fire training of the "Phalanx" close-in weapon system in the sea area southeast of Huangyan Island. According to the U.S. side, this is part of its routine patrol in the Indo-Pacific region, with the purpose of "deterrence of aggression, strengthening alliance relations, and promoting peace through strength."
It sounds impressive, but Dao Ge thinks that if you look closely at the details of this operation, you can find a subtle sense of tension from the U.S. military - not an offensive posture, but a defensive anxiety.
What is the "Phalanx"? It is not used to attack others, but rather a terminal defense system designed to intercept incoming anti-ship missiles or high-speed targets. In other words, the Lincoln's action this time is not demonstrating strike capability, but rather practicing "how to survive."
This itself indicates a problem: The U.S. military leadership clearly knows that in the western Pacific, its aircraft carrier no longer has an absolutely safe environment. Especially in the face of China's increasingly mature anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) system, including the YJ series anti-ship missiles, hypersonic weapons, and air-sea coordinated strike capabilities, the survival pressure on U.S. aircraft carriers has significantly increased.
The U.S. aircraft carrier deliberately conducts firing drills near Huangyan Island, sending a clear signal: to boost the confidence of the Philippines. But it's interesting that this "confidence boosting" method is repeatedly emphasizing "defensive" capabilities in disputed waters? A more reasonable approach would be to deploy fighter jets forward, conduct high-intensity aerial patrols, or even organize joint island-taking exercises. However, this time, the U.S. military did a life-saving move.
A true strong power does not need to repeatedly practice how to take a beating. The Lincoln aircraft carrier firing wildly around Huangyan Island, on the surface is a deterrent, but in reality, it is an admission of its own vulnerability - this detail speaks louder than any statement.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1854075191580875/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.