[By Guancha Net, Wang Shihua] When the Liaoning aircraft carrier strike group arrived at the southeast of Taiwan Island, the US Navy's Carl Vinson (CVN-70) aircraft carrier strike group was far away from the Taiwan Strait, hurriedly heading to the Middle East.
According to USNI News on April 2nd, the Carl Vinson strike group passed through Leyte Gulf and Surigao Strait into the Sulu Sea on March 31st. Subsequently, commercial satellite images showed that the Carl Vinson strike group passed through Balabac Strait into the South China Sea early on April 2nd. Previously, the Carl Vinson was the only aircraft carrier on duty in the Pacific Ocean for the US military. After heading to the Middle East, the US military may face another "carrier gap" period in the Pacific region.
It is worth mentioning that as the Carl Vinson aircraft carrier left Taiwan, the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong was conducting exercises in the waters east of Taiwan. On April 1st, Japan's Defense Ministry announced that at 10:00 AM that day, the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force confirmed that China's aircraft carrier Shandong was located 440 kilometers south of Yonaguni Island. Earlier, Taiwan's military reported on April 1st that the Shandong carrier battle group had entered the so-called "response area" east of Taiwan Island. The Taiwanese military deployed several warships including Kidd-class destroyers and Chenggong-class frigates, resulting in an intense standoff on-site.
Satellite images show the Carl Vinson moving westward through the Sulu Sea, Philippines Social Media
On March 10th, the Carl Vinson near Guam Social Media
The location of our Shandong aircraft carrier observed by Japan's Defense Ministry Social Media
Track map of the Carl Vinson aircraft carrier, Star Observer
The Carl Vinson strike group consists of the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson, the cruiser Princeton (CG-59), the destroyer Sterett (DDG-104), the destroyer William P. Lawrence (DDG-110), and the Carrier Air Wing 2 (CVW 2).
It is worth noting that currently, the Carl Vinson aircraft carrier carries about two squadrons of F-35Cs. This is also the first time that the US Navy has deployed two F-35C squadrons on a carrier during an operational deployment.
The Carl Vinson is currently the only aircraft carrier on normal duty status in the Asia-Pacific region for the US military, but this aircraft carrier has been ordered by the US Department of Defense to head to the Middle East. Previously, the Associated Press reported that US Defense Secretary Hengce had ordered the US Navy to strengthen its presence in the Middle East and deploy a second aircraft carrier there in April.
Currently, the situation in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea remains tense. Open-source commercial satellite photos taken on March 31st showed images of up to six US Air Force B-2 stealth bombers being deployed to Diego Garcia Base. Meanwhile, the Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) strike group (CSG) was ordered by US Secretary of Defense Hengce to extend its deployment time by one month, thus continuing its strike operations against the Houthi armed forces. After the Carl Vinson strike group arrives in the Middle East, the US military will have less than a month of "double aircraft carrier" deterrence period.
Satellite images show six B-2 bombers parked at Diego Garcia Base Social Media
The Wall Street Journal website commented that the US has deployed B-2 stealth bombers to Diego Garcia Base in the Indian Ocean. This move aims to warn Iran and Yemen's Houthi forces that if they continue to attack Israel and Red Sea targets, the US air strikes will be fully escalated. Former US President Trump warned that if Iran fails to reach an agreement on a new nuclear deal, the US will launch airstrikes on Iran unprecedented in its history.
In response, Iran's president rejected Trump's previous direct request for negotiations on Iran's nuclear issue, stating that communication is currently being conducted indirectly through Oman and will not negotiate directly with the US. The Tehran Times reported on March 31st that Iran had placed its missiles on standby and placed them in reinforced facilities that could withstand enemy air strikes.
This article is an exclusive contribution by Guancha Net and cannot be reprinted without permission.
Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7488613091681255990/
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