Source: World Wide Web
The aircraft carriers of the United States and Japan are currently colluding in the South China Sea and carrying out joint exercises for many consecutive days. Taiwanese media have also followed the trend, reporting that satellite images show four PLA ships closely monitoring U.S. and Japanese aircraft carriers, one of which may also be an electronic reconnaissance ship.
Taiwan's "China Times Electronic News" website reported on October 31 that the US Navy's "Carl Vincent" aircraft carrier battle group and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force "Kaga" aircraft carrier are conducting joint exercises in the South China Sea, according to European "Sentinel 2" satellite pictures, the US-Japanese ships that are conducting joint exercises in the waters near Kalimantan Island (Borneo) are being closely monitored by at least 4 PLA Navy ships, including 2 Type 054A frigates. 1 Type 056 frigate and 1 ship that could be a Type 815 electronic reconnaissance vessel.
Screenshot of the "China Times Electronic News" report
The "China Times Electronic News" quoted the US Navy as saying that the maritime forces of the United States and Japan have carried out operations in the South China Sea, including flight missions, tactical coordination training between surface and air forces, maritime refueling and maritime strikes.
According to the report, after the joint exercise between the United States and Japan was carried out for several days, the two sides are currently conducting exercises near Wan'an Beach on Kalimantan Island, but the European "Sentinel 2" satellite images exposed on October 31 show that behind the Japanese "Kaga" aircraft carrier and a Japanese destroyer, followed by a PLA Type 054A frigate; around the US "Carl Vinson" aircraft carrier battle group, there is a Type 054A frigate and a Type 056 frigate. And a ship that could be a Type 815 electronic reconnaissance vessel.
According to the news released by the platform of the "South China Sea Strategic Situational Awareness" program of the mainland think tank, on the morning of October 31, five reconnaissance aircraft, including one WC-135W nuclear material reconnaissance aircraft, one E-8C air-to-ground surveillance air-to-ground surveillance aircraft, two P-8A anti-submarine patrol aircraft of the US Navy, and one EP-3E electronic reconnaissance aircraft, went to the South China Sea for activities. Taiwan media said that the number of aircraft dispatched by the US military is "quite rare" and is likely to be related to the us-Japan joint exercises being conducted in the South China Sea.
The Japanese aircraft carrier USS Kaga participating in the us-Japan maritime joint exercise
The "China Times Electronic News" said that in recent years, the PLA Navy has often sent guided missile destroyers to track and monitor the exercises between the United States and other countries in the South China Sea, but the number of ships monitored by the United States and Japan in this US-Japan exercise is the largest, and there are also rare electronic reconnaissance ships accompanying them, and the monitoring distance is also very close. The report also said that according to public information, the Type 815 electronic reconnaissance ship is a multi-functional comprehensive reconnaissance ship developed and built by the mainland itself, which is used for reconnaissance and intelligence collection of relevant electromagnetic information and photoelectric information, and it can search for and intercept the radiation source of the other side's optoelectronic equipment and obtain photoelectric countermeasure intelligence. With a length of 130 meters, a width of 16.4 meters, and a full load displacement of nearly 6,000 tons, the main task of this reconnaissance model is to monitor and analyze electronic signal intelligence, and may also include tasks such as missile trajectory measurement and tracking during tactical ballistic missile tests.
On related issues such as the activities of US warships in the South China Sea, Colonel Tan Kefei, spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, once said that as a country outside the region, the US side ignores international law and the basic norms governing international relations, often flaunts force and provokes and stirs up trouble in the South China Sea under the guise of "freedom of navigation," constantly undermining the efforts of regional countries to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea, and has become a direct driver of tension in the South China Sea.
Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, also said that with the joint efforts of China and ASEAN countries, the current situation in the South China Sea is generally stabilizing and improving. China respects the freedom of navigation enjoyed by ships of all countries in the South China Sea in accordance with international law, but resolutely opposes some countries sending warships from far and wide to brush up on their "sense of existence" for provocative purposes. The Chinese military will take all necessary measures to deal with it resolutely and effectively.