George Washington Carrier Strike Group Visits Pearl of the Orient

[amoy]

George Washington Carrier Strike Group Visits 'Pearl of the Orient'
Navy News Service

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Trevor Welsh

HONG KONG (NNS) -- The George Washington Carrier Strike Group anchored in Victoria Harbor, Hong Kong for a scheduled port visit, Nov. 8.

The strike group's more than 6,000 Sailors will represent the U.S. Navy as ambassadors, as they interact and create goodwill and friendships with its host nation.

'Our talented young men and women on board look forward to the opportunity to enjoy the culture and charm of Hong Kong during our port visit,' said Capt. Carlos Sardiello, USS George Washington's (CVN 73) executive officer. 'They do a fantastic job each and every day at sea in support of our mission.'

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier's command religious ministries department (CRMD) has organized 16 community relations (COMREL) projects that provide the opportunity to interact with Hong Kong residents.

'It's simply amazing to see such an overwhelming response each and every time we launch a new [COMREL] opportunity,' said Lt. Glen Kitzman, CRMD division officer. 'We see hundreds of Sailors come to the CRMD spaces to sign-up, which reinforces how generous and giving our Navy personnel truly are.'

During the underway period after the strike group's most recent port visit to Singapore, George Washington underwent a three-day supply management inspection (SMI) that scrutinized every aspect of the ship's supply department. SMI ensures and certifies the department's ability to support the aircraft carrier's needs.

'I was thoroughly impressed,' said Lt. Cmdr. Marcus Jones, principal assistant for services aboard George Washington. 'If not for the entire crew and all the hard work and long hours they put in, we wouldn't have received the score that we did. They blew it out of the water; we are lucky to have such dedicated Sailors.'

While anchored in Hong Kong, the strike group will also have the opportunity to enjoy the local culture and all the 'Pearl of the Orient' has to offer.

'I am excited to visit Hong Kong; this is my first time,' said Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) Airman Chanah Turis, from Snowflake, Az. 'I really want to see the city from the top of Victoria's Peak, do some shopping and try the local cuisine.'

George Washington Strike Group includes the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers USS Antietam (CG 54) and USS Cowpens (CG 63), and the Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyers USS Lassen (DDG 82) and USS Mustin (DDG 89).

George Washington Strike Group provides a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interest of the U.S. and its allies and partners in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

Chinese frigate Yulin that monitors the visit

Left: Chinese frigate Yulin that escorts the group

A/C G. Washington enters Victoria Bay for a 5-day sojourn

 

[Ray]

This is apparently the US mode of 'showing the flag' to the Chinese people and indicating US power!

Benign gunboat diplomacy I will say.

Notwithstanding, the sailors will have a ball in Hong Kong shopping and other activities the sailors are known for, when they visit ports.

The teahouses also will do a roaring business.

 

[amoy]

Off China's coast, U.S. carrier displays teeth behind the pivot | Reuters

A U.S. Navy personnel works in the control room of the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS George Washington, during a tour of the ship in the South China Sea November 7, 2013.


(Reuters) - While cuts in Pentagon budgets and political gridlock in Washington have cast doubt on the sustainability of a U.S. "pivot" back to Asia, its military realities are all too clear from the flight deck of the USS George Washington aircraft carrier.

F-18 Super Hornet jet fighters roar from its decks with chest-thumping velocity less than 300 km (185 miles) from the Chinese coast - a symbol of U.S. naval dominance in Asia that Chinese analysts fear could contain Beijing's rising power for decades.

Yet just 30 km (19 miles) away is a lone Chinese naval frigate, well within the protective screen of U.S. ships and aircraft that protect the carrier across a vast swathe of the disputed South China Sea.

The officers of the Washington are hosting People's Liberation Army officers on-board as part of efforts to engage a Chinese military wary of being contained by U.S. forces across Asia. The frigate has not been invited.

The Washington strike group commander, Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery, stretches his arm to the left horizon where the frigate is obscured by haze and acknowledges such encounters by the rival powers are now more common.

"You can definitely see the Chinese navy is modernizing and expanding," he said. "It would be a natural conclusion they would be operating in the vicinity of us."

Montgomery said routine communication with Chinese naval ships was "professional" and that the U.S. navy was determined to aid the long-troubled relationship with "transparency and openness".

"I don't have any issues with them operating in the vicinity of our ships," he said.

The Washington strike group - that often includes destroyers, cruisers and a fast-attack submarine backed by up to 90 aircraft - protects the only one of 10 carriers deployed permanently outside the continental United States.

Based in Yokosuka, Japan, the Washington is the most visible sign of an increased U.S. naval presence across Asia that has been steadily growing for the last five years - a key element in the controversial U.S. "pivot".

On Friday, it is due to arrive in the financial hub of Hong Kong after months across the region running joint exercises, maneuvers and training.

While U.S. military brass attempt to ease China's fears that the United States is determined to hem China in, as it re-engages the region, its old allies and newer friends are wanting reassurances the United States is going to stay around.

Last month, U.S. President Barack Obama said China had probably taken advantage of his absence from two summits in Asia which he could not attend because of the partial U.S. government shutdown and fiscal debate.

COMBAT READINESS

The presence of the strike group in the South China Sea appears geared to addressing the core of U.S. engagement in the region. The overlapping claims of China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia in the oil- and gas-rich sea is emerging as a regional flashpoint.

The United States has said it is neutral in the dispute - centered on China's controversial historic claim of waters deep in the maritime heart of Southeast Asia - but is determined to preserve peace and ensure that sea-lanes vital for the world economy are not hindered.

Even as it grapples with budget cuts, over the next few years the United States will significantly expand joint exercises, live-firing tests and anti-submarine drills in the region, in part to cope with advancing Chinese weaponry, according to the Stars and Stripes, the U.S. military newspaper.

And on board the George Washington, officers and crew say combat readiness is being maintained through costly flight schedules that see 100 sorties routinely flown from the ship on most days.

Chinese officials and commentators often bristle at the U.S. efforts. Despite years of double-digit increases in defense spending by China, it lags far behind the United States in terms of firepower.

Chinese pilots are still testing landings aboard the Liaoning, a Soviet-era ship that has been re-tooled as China's first aircraft carrier.

China's first domestically built carriers are not expected to be completed before 2020, according to military analysts, even as its shipyards produce new nuclear and conventional submarines, destroyers and other heavily armed surface ships faster than any other nation.

Its expanding fleet has started routinely exercising far beyond China's coastal waters, moving beyond the so-called first island chain that has long effectively contained China's navy and into open ocean east of Japan.

Both Asian and Western analysts, however, believe China's navy would struggle for some years to sustain protracted battles far from its shores.

Assessing the situation from the bridge, high above the flight deck, Montgomery insists his navy is committed, both in terms of operational capabilities and engagement.

Put simply, he says: "There are more ships involved here."

 

[BangersAndMash]

The chinese are going to have a field day taking photos! Expecting a replica chinese model! :taunt1:

 

[Ray]

The presence of the strike group in the South China Sea appears geared to addressing the core of U.S. engagement in the region. The overlapping claims of China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia in the oil- and gas-rich sea is emerging as a regional flashpoint.

Here lies the nub of all this show!

 

[W.G.Ewald]

Last month, U.S. President Barack Obama said China had probably taken advantage of his absence from two summits in Asia which he could not attend because of the partial U.S. government shutdown and fiscal debate.

Parenthetically, that is a pathetic excuse and no reader should believe it. At that time, Obama was refusing to negotiate with Republicans, so there no reason for him to stay home. Secondly, I believe China will do what is wants, whether Obama is on the scene or not.

Hard to know which is Obama's worst trait, his unrelenting lying or his enormous ego.

 

[CCTV]

This is apparently the US mode of 'showing the flag' to the Chinese people and indicating US power!

Benign gunboat diplomacy I will say.

Notwithstanding, the sailors will have a ball in Hong Kong shopping and other activities the sailors are known for, when they visit ports.

The teahouses also will do a roaring business.

Well, it just shows friendship between two countries.

Two month ago at US:
Chinese Military Ships Visit Hawaii For Joint Exercises With US

This month, the first time PLA land force will have joint exercise with US on US soil: Chinese troops will have boots on the ground in Hawaii on Tuesday.
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/59113

 

[Ray]

Well, it just shows friendship between two countries.

Two month ago at US:
Chinese Military Ships Visit Hawaii For Joint Exercises With US''

This month, the first time PLA land force will have joint exercise with US on US soil: Chinese troops will have boots on the ground in Hawaii on Tuesday.
Chinese troops will have boots on the ground in Hawaii on Tuesday

Yes friendship.

Endearing and loveable.

But I wonder what the media is going crazy about then, when they write

The presence of the strike group in the South China Sea appears geared to addressing the core of U.S. engagement in the region. The overlapping claims of China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia in the oil- and gas-rich sea is emerging as a regional flashpoint.

 

[CCTV]

Yes friendship.

Endearing and loveable.

But I wonder what the media is going crazy about then, when they write

Well, it is a response to the Chinese fleets did excercise closed to hawaii earlier.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/video/2013-10/30/c_132844419.htm
And send some ship to watch US at the same time.
http://www.hawaiifreepress.com/ArticlesMain/tabid/56/ID/10906/Report-Chinese-Spy-Ship-Operating-Near-Hawaii.aspx
http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20131024000100&cid=1101


But, finally China America bhai bhai.

 

[Ray]

But, finally China America bhai bhai.

Dreams are true while they last, and do we not live in dreams.