Three U.S. Navy aircraft carriers, the USS Ronald Reagan and the assault ships USS Tripoli and USS America, are operating in waters within striking distance of Taiwan. The Reagan transited the San Bernardino Strait in the Philippines on July 30 and as of Aug. 1 was reported to be sailing in the Philippine Sea roughly 600 km southeast of Taiwan. The USS Tripoli, carrying 20 F-35B stealth fighters, is underway south of Okinawa, while the USS America, also capable of carrying F-35B’s, is in the East China Sea.
A Pentagon spokesman claimed to U.S. Naval Institute News that the ships were operating normally but a senior defense official said the ships, escorts and their air wings were prepared to linger in the region as a contingency option.
