The Aircraft Carrier USS Ronald Reagan Is Navigating In Crowded Waters

Reuters: U.S. carrier navigates crowded waters as North Korea tensions mount

ABOARD THE USS RONALD REAGAN, South China Sea, Sept 30 (Reuters) - A s the commanders of the largest U.S. warship in Asia seek to maintain operational readiness amid protracted tensions over North Korea, they find themselves keeping one eye on China, too.

On Saturday, as F-18 Super Hornet jet fighters roared from the decks of the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier during routine drills deep in the South China Sea, two Chinese frigates maintained a constant line-of-sight vigil.

Officers on the Japanese-based Reagan described frequent close quarter surveillance from the ships of the People’s Liberation Army Navy in international waters.

Sometimes, they said, Chinese vessels steam in to check out the carrier en route to other destinations. Other times, Chinese frigates linger for days within the screen of U.S. ships and planes that protect the Reagan - Washington’s only carrier based outside America.

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WNU Editor: The USS Ronald Reagan is currently in the port of Hong Kong .... Thousands of US Navy officers arrive in Hong Kong for USS Ronald Reagan port of call (SCMP). Because of new US Navy rules (after two collisions) .... you can now track these ships .... Twitter users appear to track Navy ships using newly activated beacons (Stars and Stripes)