Two warships of the US Navy have arrived in the Pacific ahead of the scheduled 12-day visit of President Donald Trump to Asia in early November. The ships are USS Theodore Roosevelt and USS Nimitz which are moving with their fleet of cruisers, destroyers, and submarines.
These warships will team up with the USS Ronald Reagan based in Japan which is carrying out maritime exercises with South Korean forces. This exercise has not gone down well with North Korea which views them with suspicion and treats them as rehearsals for an attack. America denies any such intention.
The presence of a number of United States warships in the region at the same time has created an obvious flutter among the adversaries.
Message to China
CNN reports that the arrival of these warships will send a message of sorts to both China and North Korea. China is emerging as a major force in Asia. It has built fortifications on islands and reefs in the South China Sea, and has also upgraded its fleet with new warships. Reports in the Chinese media perceives the presence of the US Navy in the region as a risk to commercial shipping.
However, in the opinion of experts, it is important to let China know that the United States is still a force to reckon with in the Pacific. President Trump’s visit is significant in view of the adamant attitude of North Korea and its threats of nuking the US.
His itinerary is expected to cover China, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, and Vietnam.
The tasks are defined
USS Theodore Roosevelt and USS Nimitz have their work cut out. The Roosevelt could be required to undertake every possible task from humanitarian relief to combat operations, and both are scheduled to make port visits.
The fleet of cruisers and destroyers accompanying the warships are equipped with an anti-missile system to counter any possible missile attack from North Korea. Incidentally, the United States, South Korea, and Japan are conducting a missile tracking exercise in the waters off of South Korea and Japan.
The purpose of this joint exercise is to ensure that America and its allies are tuned to the same frequency while tracking possible nuclear and missile threats of North Korea.
Obviously, the Korean peninsula is volatile, and the situation could turn unpleasant at any moment. In case of a nuclear war, nobody will be spared. The mass-scale devastation from the war will be felt everywhere, and all concerned must try to prevent the catastrophe. It is all right to show off the arsenal but the finger must be kept away from the button.
