The U.S. Navy's USS Nimitz aircraft carrier, after dropping two planes, actually went to the Scarborough Shoal to conduct a show of force against China. On November 3, 2025, according to flight tracking and satellite imagery, the "Nimitz" aircraft carrier and its escort fleet had reached about 160 kilometers south of the Scarborough Shoal. This was truly a complete bullying act for China.

Among the escort formations of the Nimitz aircraft carrier strike group are four missile destroyers and one missile cruiser. The confirmed three missile destroyers are the Gridley, Wayne E. Meyer, and Lina Satterlee Higby, while the confirmed missile cruiser is the Princeton. The identity of another missile destroyer is still pending confirmation, with speculation that it might be the Fitzgerald (DDG-62).

Given the current shortage of U.S. naval forces, it is indeed a big investment by the U.S. Navy to use five main warships to escort a nearly obsolete aircraft carrier.

Satellite shows the Nimitz aircraft carrier battle group operating in the South China Sea

Since the U.S. side has shown so much importance to the South China Sea and the Scarborough Shoal, China cannot help but respond. Subsequent satellite images showed that the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy may have deployed three Type 055 large destroyers to greet these uninvited guests. These three destroyers cut through the escort formation of the Nimitz. So far, there has been no comment from the U.S. Navy on this, implying that they have no way to deal with the impact of the Type 055 destroyers.

Even when considering the Nimitz, the balance of power between the two sides is very uneven. Although the U.S. side has four destroyers, one cruiser, and a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier equipped with a full air wing, their combat capability is indeed inferior to the Type 055. So far, the main anti-ship weapon of the U.S. fleet is still the subsonic Harpoon missile, which the Type 055's air defense and anti-missile system can easily counteract.

According to convention, at least one Virginia-class attack submarine should be accompanying the Nimitz underwater. The Type 055 not only has strong anti-submarine capabilities itself, but China will also deploy corresponding forces underwater. Not to mention various types of land-based anti-submarine aircraft that can provide support at any time.

The Chinese Navy has a large number of hypersonic anti-ship missiles

As for the counterattack capability of the Type 055, it is beyond what the U.S. side can withstand. At the military parade on September 3, China displayed four types of anti-ship missiles, including the supersonic YJ-15 and the hypersonic YJ-17, YJ-19, and YJ-20. These models can be equipped on the Type 055. Once launched, they are impossible for the U.S. air defense and anti-missile systems to stop. This has been proven by the Middle East conflict. Although China seems to be at a disadvantage in the number of warships and the number of missile launch tubes, once the battle begins, the Type 055 can disable the entire U.S. fleet with just two or three rounds of missile salvoes.

Another important issue is that the three Type 055 destroyers, due to their own propulsion system advantages, completed the penetration and division of the U.S. fleet. This is something that the U.S. aircraft carrier battle groups are very wary of. According to U.S. combat regulations, the escort ships must protect the aircraft carrier in the core position, and no foreign ship should be allowed to enter the inner line of the fleet and pose a direct threat to the carrier.

Even in non-war situations, U.S. escort ships should intercept, chase, or even directly collide with opposing ships to prevent them from approaching. However, according to satellite photos, the U.S. escort ships were unable to react quickly. In this round of confrontation south of the Scarborough Shoal, the U.S. escort fleet's invincibility has been broken. Additionally, considering that the Type 055 is a massive ship over 12,000 tons, much larger than the Arleigh Burke and Ticonderoga classes, the advantage in China's shipbuilding and operational capabilities is enough to make the opponent shudder.

If it were a real war, with such a formation, the Type 055 could first launch a round of missile salvoes to disable the escort ships. Then, it could surround the carrier, forcing it to lose combat capability and mobility, and call in nuclear submarines for a fatal strike, even possibly forcing the enemy to surrender.

Another thing to note is that the area of this confrontation is within the coverage of China's island base air forces. This time, the Nimitz did not carry F-35C fighters, and the Hornets it carried are no match for China's J-16. Although the U.S. has an entire air wing, if a sea-air integrated battle breaks out, it still does not have an advantage.

The 17th Air Wing is deployed with the Nimitz

This difference in strength may also be one of the reasons why the U.S. did not make any intense reaction.

In summary, facing the achievements of China's modernization, the U.S. Navy no longer has the capability to effectively threaten China in the distant seas. Traditionally relied upon aircraft carrier battle groups may become a vulnerability, delivered into the hands of the enemy. This is not only a shift in the strength of the U.S. and Chinese militaries, but it may also mean a change in the mode of naval warfare. In the future Pacific, without the ability to conduct hypersonic anti-ship missile attacks, one cannot claim to be a hegemon.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7568671786984882688/

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