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Naval Tensions Rise in the Indo-Pacific as US and Chinese Forces Maneuver.
In a context of persistent tensions in the Indo-Pacific, the naval movements of the United States and China continue to attract international attention. In late April 2025, as the USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group resumed operations in the Philippine Sea following a scheduled port call in Guam, an American destroyer transited the Taiwan Strait, while a joint naval exercise between the United States and Australia took place in the South China Sea. At the same time, China's Shandong Carrier Strike Group completed its operations in the Philippine Sea before returning to the East China Sea, with its movements closely monitored by regional allied forces.
The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) steams forward in the Pacific Ocean (Picture source: US DoD)
The carrier strike group led by the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68), flagship of Carrier Strike Group 11, is currently operating in the Philippine Sea after its Guam port call, illustrating the operational readiness of the group and reaffirming the U.S. Navy's commitment to regional stability. Since resuming activities, the group’s units have been conducting intensive day and night flight operations, demonstrating Carrier Air Wing 17’s ability to quickly launch and recover aircraft under various conditions. These operations contribute to maritime security and ensure the U.S. fleet’s ability to project power across the Indo-Pacific theater. Onboard Nimitz, F/A-18E Super Hornet fighters from Strike Fighter Squadron 94, known as the “Mighty Shrikes,” have been conducting regular flight missions, as evidenced by images captured on April 23, 2025.
USS Nimitz is the lead ship of its class, commissioned in 1975. Built by Newport News Shipbuilding and named after Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, the vessel is one of the largest warships in naval history. Powered by two Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors, it has unlimited operational range and can reach speeds exceeding 31 knots. The ship carries about 5,000 personnel, including its own crew and air wing staff, and operates a fleet of around 90 aircraft, including F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growlers, E-2D Hawkeyes, and MH-60 helicopters. Designed for operations both on the high seas and in littoral environments, it represents strategic flexibility and the capability for maritime power projection. Throughout its service, USS Nimitz has been homeported at Norfolk, Bremerton, North Island, Everett, and again at Kitsap.
In terms of defensive capabilities, USS Nimitz is equipped with an advanced suite of weapons, including Sea Sparrow missiles, RAM systems, Phalanx CIWS for close-in defense, and 25 mm cannons. Its detection and command capabilities rely on a range of radars such as the AN/SPS-48E, AN/SPS-49(V)5, AN/SPQ-9B, and air traffic control radars AN/SPN-46 and AN/SPN-43C. It also features the AN/SLQ-32A(V)4 electronic warfare system and SLQ-25A Nixie torpedo countermeasures, enhancing its survivability in contested environments. As a true floating airbase, its angled flight deck, equipped with catapults and arresting gear, enables simultaneous aircraft launches and recoveries, meeting the demands of modern carrier aviation.
Throughout its operational history, USS Nimitz has participated in major U.S. naval missions, from the 1980 Iran hostage crisis to Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. It has also featured in popular culture, notably in the film The Final Countdown and the documentary series Carrier. Today, as it nears the end of its expected service life, plans call for its operational stop (STOP) to begin in 2026, ahead of deactivation at Newport News. USS Nimitz remains the oldest aircraft carrier in active service worldwide.
Rear Adm. Maximilian Clark, commander of Carrier Strike Group 11, emphasized the importance of conducting forward operations to sharpen the group’s ability to maintain persistent and capable forces at sea, ready to respond to any crisis or contingency. Carrier Strike Group 11 includes USS Nimitz, Carrier Air Wing 17, and Destroyer Squadron 9, comprising destroyers USS Gridley (DDG-101) and USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG-123). USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG-108) has been reassigned to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to join the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group, while USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG-54) made a separate port call at Saipan before heading to Guam.
An F/A-18E Super Hornet from the "Mighty Shrikes" of Strike Fighter Squadron 94 prepares for flight operations aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68) in the Philippine Sea on April 23, 2025 (Picture source: US DoD)
The entire group currently operates under the U.S. 7th Fleet, the largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, which plays a key role in cooperating with allies to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific. The reinforced U.S. presence underscores the continuing importance of maritime security and freedom of navigation in the region.
Meanwhile, the Chinese carrier CNS Shandong (17) completed a three-day operation in the Philippine Sea, conducting approximately 130 flight operations, including 70 fighter launches and 60 helicopter flights. These activities, monitored and reported by Japan, were closely tracked by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, with destroyer JS Ariake (DD-109) observing the Chinese task group. The Shandong’s escort included cruiser CNS Yan’an (106), destroyers CNS Zhanjiang (165) and CNS Xiangyang (108), and frigate CNS Hengsui (572). Philippine authorities also identified the presence of the Dongdiao-class surveillance ship Tianquanxing (797), associated with China’s South Sea Fleet.
The Taiwan Strait also witnessed heightened activity with the passage on Wednesday of the U.S. destroyer USS William P. Lawrence (DDG-110). China’s Eastern Theater Command condemned the transit, accusing the United States of “creating unnecessary tension.” Chinese forces reportedly monitored the destroyer throughout its transit, although neither Washington nor Taipei disclosed the specific direction of the passage. USS William P. Lawrence, detached from the Carl Vinson Strike Group deployed in November 2024, is currently based in the region, having recently been observed at Yokosuka, Japan.
Additionally, in the South China Sea, the littoral combat ship USS Omaha (LCS-12) and the Royal Australian Navy destroyer HMAS Sydney (DDG-42) conducted a joint sailing exercise on Friday. Vice Adm. Fred Kacher, commander of the U.S. 7th Fleet, emphasized that such exercises strengthen interoperability, enhance information sharing, and improve regional access. Commander Ben Weller of HMAS Sydney underlined the importance of joint operations to maintain operational readiness alongside allied forces and to uphold a rules-based international order. HMAS Sydney, deployed since April 3, 2025, had previously participated in the Bersama Shield exercise under the Five Power Defence Arrangements, alongside Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
These developments illustrate the increasingly active strategic dynamics in the Indo-Pacific. The maneuvers of the Nimitz and Shandong carrier groups, the transit of the Taiwan Strait by a U.S. destroyer, and joint naval exercises reflect a clear intent to project power, strengthen alliances, and secure regional interests. As maritime claims disputes and freedom of navigation issues persist, the intensity and complexity of naval operations in the Indo-Pacific will likely continue shaping the region’s security landscape.