Chinese warship spotted shadowing US strike group in West Philippine Sea

From Update.Ph (Mar 5): Chinese warship spotted shadowing US strike group in West Philippine Sea

A Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy vessel was spotted shadowing the United States Navy John C. Stennis Strike Group (JCSSG) in West Philippine Sea. The said American strike group is currently on patrol in international waters within US Navy 7th Fleet Area of Operations.

“The [JCSSG] ships transited the Luzon Strait March 1 and have maintained a location in the eastern half of these international waters for four days,” the US Navy said.

“We have Chinese ships around us that we normally didn’t see in my past experience,” said Stennis’ commanding officer Captain Greg Huffman who was previously deployed in the said waters in 2007.

“Everything I have heard over bridge-to-bridge channels has been good communications between professional mariners,” he added.

The John C. Stennis Strike Group is composed of Nimitz-class supercarrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 21 embarked, guided-missile destroyers USS Stockdale (DDG 106), USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93), USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110), and guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG 53).

An MH-60S Seahawk assigned to the Chargers of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 14, currently embarked aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), conducts routine flight operations. A People’s Liberation Army (Navy) vessel is seen shadowing Stennis strike group during patrol in West Philippine Sea. March 4. US Navy photo

JCSSG is the centerpiece of Great Green Fleet (GGF), an effort to transform energy use. The strike group is using energy efficiency measures, to include technologies and operational procedures, and alternative fuel in the course of its normal operations.

 http://www.update.ph/2016/03/chinese-warship-spotted-shadowing-us-strike-group-in-west-philippine-sea/3050