Tag Archives: U.S. 7th Fleet

China Taking Hard Line on Military Flybys, Freedom of Navigation Operations, Says Panel

China Taking Hard Line on Military Flybys, Freedom of Navigation Operations, Says Panel

A fighter jet attached to an aviation brigade of the PLA Air Force soars into the sky during a high-intensity flight training exercise in early Feb. 2023. PLA Photo

Dialing back Western Pacific freedom of navigation operations and military flights runs a “very high risk” of sending the wrong message to Beijing about U.S. intentions in the Indo-Pacific, security experts said Wednesday. Read More

U.S. 7th Fleet Denies Destroyer was Expelled from South China Sea Island Chain

U.S. 7th Fleet Denies Destroyer was Expelled from South China Sea Island Chain

Guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG-69) steams alongside the Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship USNS Charles Drew (T-AKE-10) during an underway replenishment while operating in the Philippine Sea, March 16. US Navy Photo

- This post has been updated to indicate USS Milius had not been conducting a freedom of navigation operation at the time of the incident. 

The Navy denied that an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile illegally entered China’s maritime territory and was chased off by People’s Liberation Army forces, contradicting claims by China’s Southern Theatre Command. Read More

INDOPACOM: China Has Not Responded to U.S. Attempts to Establish Communication

INDOPACOM: China Has Not Responded to U.S. Attempts to Establish Communication

Adm. John C. Aquilino, Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, listens to a brief during the USINDOPACOM Commander’s Summit in Hawaii on Dec. 13, 2022. U.S. Navy Photo

China has not responded to any of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s requests to establish direct communication channels between its commander and the commanders of China’s main military commands, Adm. John Aquilino said Thursday. Read More

7th Fleet Commander Thomas Nominated to Serve as Director of Naval Intelligence

7th Fleet Commander Thomas Nominated to Serve as Director of Naval Intelligence

Vice Adm. Karl Thomas, commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, speaks to the crew of mine countermeasures ship USS Pioneer (MCM-9) over the ship’s 1MC during a tour, June 9, 2022. US Navy Photo

Current U.S. 7th Fleet commander Vice Adm. Karl Thomas was tapped to be the next deputy chief of naval operations for information warfare (OPNAV N2/N6) and director of naval intelligence, the Pentagon announced Wednesday. Read More

Coast Guard Moving Cutter to Pacific as Regional Missions Expand

Coast Guard Moving Cutter to Pacific as Regional Missions Expand

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Bear, a 270 foot, medium endurance cutter, arrives in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to deliver supplies, Oct. 9, 2017. The supplies included donations collected by Customs and Border Patrol members. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Bear, a 270 foot, medium endurance cutter, arrives in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to deliver supplies, Oct. 9, 2017. US Coast Guard Photo

SAN DIEGO – Driven by greater demand for its partnerships and presence in the Indo-Pacific region, the U.S. Coast Guard is growing its operational presence in the vast region that’s unsettled by continuing incursions from China’s naval militia and fishing fleet, the Pacific Area commander told an audience today. Read More