The United States announced on Thursday that the latest amphibious warship, the USS Tripoli (LHA-7), carrying stealth fighters, will be stationed in Japan amidst the rapid expansion of the Chinese navy.
According to a report by Newsweek on Monday, Japan is a key security ally of the United States and, under the U.S. defense concept, together with Taiwan and the Philippines, forms the first island chain to block the Chinese navy alongside Western Pacific allies and friendly nations in times of conflict.
Currently stationed in Japan under the Pacific Fleet is the USS America (LHA-6) amphibious assault ship. After the launch of the Chinese Navy’s first amphibious assault ship with fighter jet catapult technology last December, news of the USS America being replaced was confirmed.
The USS Tripoli, a sister ship to the USS America, has departed its homeport in San Diego, California, and is sailing towards Japan’s Sasebo, facing China across the East China Sea.
Commissioned in July 2020, the USS Tripoli will replace the USS America on a long-term basis in Sasebo, while the USS America will be rotated to San Diego. It is currently unclear when the planned fleet rotation will take place.
Photos released by the U.S. Navy show that as of Monday, the USS America is operating in the Philippine Sea east of the first island chain, conducting flight operations with F-35B fighter jets.
The U.S. Pacific Fleet stated, “Maintaining the ability to ‘forward-deployed naval force (FDNF)’ with the most advanced vessels helps support the U.S.’s defense of Japan and its commitment to security and stability in the critical Indo-Pacific region.”
Katie Koenig, a Navy lieutenant commander and spokesperson for the U.S. Pacific Fleet, previously stated, “The U.S. Navy continues to assess the readiness and capabilities of its forces to provide the most powerful and effective maritime force. Long-term planners continually evaluate if ships, aircraft, facilities, and equipment are being utilized effectively and efficiently.”
Next, the U.S. Navy will continue to deploy its most advanced warships in the Western Pacific as China has expanded its naval coverage far from its shores.
The statement noted that the rotation of U.S. warships reflects changes in the security environment in the Indo-Pacific region, with the U.S. Navy needing to deploy its most combat-ready warships in the region to enhance its ability to protect strategic interests.
The USS Tripoli previously deployed to the Indo-Pacific region in 2022 for the first time and tested the concept of a “lightning carrier” with F-35B stealth fighters.
Since the return of the USS George Washington aircraft carrier to its homeport in Yokosuka, Japan, and the deployment of the USS Minnesota fast-attack submarine to Guam in November last year, this marks the third major rotation of U.S. warships in the Indo-Pacific region.