Japan to Join U.S. in Valiant Shield Exercise, China Continues Military Drills Near Taiwan

Sailors watch as the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) sails alongside amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli (LHA-7) prior to a photo exercise for Valiant Shield 2022 on June 12, 2022. US Navy Photo

The Japan Self-Defense Forces will participate for the first time in the U.S. military’s Valiant Shield exercise, with part of the exercise taking place in Japan, said Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara on Friday. Meanwhile, China continues its Joint Sword-2024A exercise around...

https://news.usni.org/2024/05/24/japan-to-join-u-s-in-valiant-shield-exercise-china-continues-military-drills-near-taiwan

Carrier USS Ronald Reagan Now Underway Ahead of Spring Patrol

USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) pulls into port in Busan, Republic of Korea, Sept. 23, 2022. US Navy Photo

Aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) and guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG-54) departed Japan on Friday for an underway period ahead of the forward-deployed U.S. carrier strike group’s spring patrol, according to ship spotters.

The aircraft carrier completed its annual maintenance period earlier this month and is now underway for a short shake-down period before it begins the patrol...

https://news.usni.org/2023/05/12/carrier-uss-ronald-reagan-leaves-yokosuka-for-spring-patrol

Reagan Carrier Strike Group Wraps Spring Patrol Following Chinese Military Drills Near Taiwan

Sailors on the bridge wing of Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG-62) observe a replenishment-at-sea between the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) and USNS Rappahannock (T-AO-204) in the Philippine Sea on Aug. 12, 2022. US Navy Photo

USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) pulled into Yokosuka, Japan on Friday, wrapping a three-month patrol in the Western Pacific, USNI News has learned.

USNI News confirmed ship spotter reports that the carrier had returned to its Japan homeport. The...

https://news.usni.org/2022/08/19/reagan-carrier-strike-group-wraps-spring-patrol-following-chinese-military-drills-near-taiwan

China Launches Third Aircraft Carrier as U.S. Wraps Major Pacific Exercise

People’s Liberation Army Navy aircraft carrier Fujian on June 17, 2022. Xinhua Photo

China launched its third aircraft carrier on Friday, as the United States wrapped up its Valiant Shield 2022 exercise.

Meanwhile, Chinese and Russian ships have been operating around Japanese waters this week, the Japan Ministry of Defense said in news releases.

On Friday morning, China launched its third aircraft carrier, named Fujian (18), carrying hull number 18, at Jiangnan Shipyard of China Shipbuilding...

https://news.usni.org/2022/06/17/china-launches-third-aircraft-carrier-as-u-s-wraps-major-pacific-exercise