The U.S. Department of Defense announced on January 3 that a strike group carrying the USS Carl Vinson would conduct joint patrols and exercises in the South China Sea with the Philippine Navy. Deputy Commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Brawner said the cruise marked an important step forward in the U.S.-Philippines alliance. However, what is surprising is that the "Carl Vinson" aircraft carrier was scheduled to participate in the exercise was suddenly absent, which not only surprised the outside world, but also surprised the Philippine military. The Philippines originally planned to report on the participation of the USS Carl Vinson, but it failed to do so, because the aircraft carrier did not announce its participation in the joint exercise, resulting in a significant reduction in the joint exercise between the US and Philippine militaries. Vice Admiral Carlos, commander of the Western Command of the Philippines, had planned to board the USS Carl Vinson to see fighter jets take off and land, but he was also disappointed by the sudden change.
"Unfortunately, they didn't give specific details," he said. They simply said that part of the forces had to be reassigned to other tasks 'due to certain operational needs'. "On January 3, in addition to the announcement by the U.S. Department of Defense that the U.S. military will conduct joint patrols and exercises with the Philippine military, the news of the U.S. Navy is also hyped. According to the U.S. Naval Institute**, the U.S. Navy announced that the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier strike group will conduct exercises with the Philippine Navy in the South China Sea. The carrier strike group included the USS Carl Vinson, the USS Princeton guided-missile cruiser, and the destroyers USS Kidd and USS Stret, while the Philippine side dispatched two patrol ships and a landing ship. This is the second consecutive time that the United States and the Philippines have held similar exercises and cruises in just over a month, but unexpectedly, the aircraft carrier "Carl Vinson" was suddenly absent.
Many believe that this is because the United States understands China's intentions and is deterred by the response in China's southern theater of operations, and does not dare to participate as scheduled. This is because the Southern Theater of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) also announced on the same day that it would organize naval and air forces to conduct routine patrols in the South China Sea. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) said that the theater troops will remain on high alert at all times, resolutely defend national sovereignty, security and maritime rights and interests, and fully control any military activities that disrupt the South China Sea and create hot spots. At the same time, there are rumors that the United States is panicking because the PLA warships arrived in the sea area scheduled for the exercise by the United States and the Philippines ahead of schedule. The Philippine "Daily Inquirer" said on the 4th that when the Philippine Navy's "Del Pinal" patrol ship arrived at the exercise area in the early morning of the 3rd, it found that the PLA Type 054A frigate Huangshan had taken the lead in arriving in the nearby waters. Subsequently, another Chinese Type 052D missile destroyer, the Hefei, also rushed to "watch".
As a result, the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group ended up sending only one destroyer, the USS Strett. The author has reservations about this statement, believing that this explanation seems far-fetched. So, what's going on?In my opinion, this move shows that the actions of the US side are not well considered, and it may be that the United States has stepped forward to revise this exercise. Why?Because January 1 is the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States, the Chinese Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Chinese Society for People's Diplomacy arranged to hold a reception to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States on January 5. **Director of the Foreign Affairs Office Wang Yi attended and delivered a speech in person. On such a day, it is clearly out of place for the US aircraft carrier to organize joint patrols and military exercises with the Philippine Navy. Especially when the United States needs to stabilize China, such actions are very detrimental to American goals.
Because, at present, what the United States needs most is to stabilize China, prevent China from taking action against Taiwan, not support Russia, and hope that China will no longer sell US bonds, but increase US bonds to help the United States solve the debt crisis. Therefore, it is obviously wiser for the United States to temporarily suspend the USS Carl Vinson from participating in joint patrols and military exercises organized with the Philippines.