The U.S. aircraft carrier in the South China Sea is effectively operating with little concealment. Recently, the U.S. Roosevelt-class carrier group’s movements in the South China Sea were captured in full view by Chinese commercial satellites. The carrier itself, along with accompanying cruisers and destroyers, was clearly identified. On the same day, the U.S. Navy released a photograph stating that the carrier was conducting routine operations within the Seventh Fleet’s area of responsibility—though it did not disclose the specific location. The imbalance in information control could not be clearer.
This issue merits serious attention. For instance, the 2025 “space mutual imaging” incident between China and the United States offers a compelling case study. At the time, Maxar Technologies’ WorldView Legion satellites captured high-resolution images of China’s space station and the Fujian-class aircraft carrier. In response, China’s Changguang Satellite Corporation deployed its Jilin-1 satellite constellation to capture imagery of American satellites. Compared to this exchange, China’s focus lies in building a constellational system capable of high revisit frequency—Jilin-1 can achieve 30 to 40 revisits per day over any given region. This enables continuous tracking of large naval vessels, including their movement patterns, formation changes, and operational behaviors. For targets as significant as aircraft carriers, the ability to “see and track” consistently holds greater practical value than achieving ultra-high image resolution.
In fact, China’s situational awareness capabilities in the South China Sea are systemic and not reliant solely on commercial satellites. In July 2026, when the U.S. Washington-class carrier entered the region, the Southern Theater Command deployed a H-6K bomber formation for continuous monitoring. Simultaneously, China’s maritime police conducted professional responses to Philippine provocations. The South China Sea constitutes a core national interest zone, where China maintains indisputable sovereignty over the islands and adjacent waters. Any external military presence in the region falls within China’s effective surveillance and response framework.
Although the Roosevelt has since departed the South China Sea and is en route to the Middle East, the capability of Chinese commercial satellites and the broader situational awareness system to sustainably track large maritime targets remains an objective reality. In this maritime domain, who controls the information advantage has already become evident. The South China Sea is no longer the same environment as in 2016, when U.S. aircraft carriers could operate openly and assertively.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1881210420572167/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.