U.S. Sinks 820-Foot Ship as a Warning to China Amid Rising Tensions

A move seen as a stern message to China, this operation used the ship’s decommissioning as an opportunity for a powerful display of military prowess.

This wasn’t just a training exercise — it was a calculated maneuver in the vast Pacific waters, hinting at the rising tensions between superpowers.

The Rim of the Pacific is the largest naval exercise in the world. The exercise always includes the sinking of a decommissioned U.S. Navy warship. Vice Admiral John Wade told Stripes that the sinking exercise allows the Navy to practice with multiple weapons systems.

However, China, the largest naval power in the world, has been absent from the exercise since 2016. Chilean Navy Commodore and RIMPAC’s deputy commander for 2024, Alberto Guerrero, said: “Every nation in the world that has interests in the Pacific and will adhere to the same values is more than welcome to participate.”

They noted, “This is clearly aimed at China,” pointing out that the U.S. perceives China as a key adversary with similar naval capabilities in the region.

They said the U.S. Navy chose the USS Tarawa because “the only country deemed as ‘enemy’ by the U.S. that operates a 40,000-ton amphibious assault ship in the Asia-Pacific region is China.”

Yet, this modern twist uses stealth technology, showcasing advancements in military strategy and hardware.

This emphasizes that despite the ship’s age, the message to modern threats remains clear and current.

The sinking of the Tarawa seems to be a direct response to these maneuvers, signaling U.S. vigilance and reach.

These allies include the Philippines, Taiwan and other areas. A huge Chinese ship intruded on Escoda Shoal, which is on Filipino waters, in July and refused to leave. The ship had not left despite claims that it had sailed home.

China has recently upped its aggression toward the U.S. Just last month, four Chinese warships were spotted off the coast of Alaska. The warships had passed into an exclusively U.S. economic zone in the Pacific Ocean. In 2022, a Chinese-guided missile cruiser was also spotted in the Bering Sea.

The U.S. Navy fired the stealthy Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile, striking the target ship. However, several analysts have pointed out that this stealth weapon and the B-2 Stealth bomber could potentially be used by the U.S. Navy in a real conflict with China.

The Global Times said: “Some experts also suggest that the U.S. and its allies may be preparing for the potential scenario of the mainland using such a ship to attack the Taiwan island.” The exercise is perceived as a threat because it showed that the U.S. Navy could retaliate if China employed such a vessel against them.

Taiwan is an island that sits about 100 miles off the coast of China. While China still asserts that Taiwan is Chinese territory, the U.S. recognizes Taiwan as an independent country and is an ally. Taiwan has become a frequent subject of tension between China and the United States.

The States are an ally of the Philippines and Japan as well. Their allyship with Taiwan would consolidate a balance of power in the Pacific Ocean that benefits the U.S. If China forced Taiwan to become part of its own country, this would transform the political dynamics of the Indo-Pacific region.

The USS Tarawa’s displacement of up to 40,000 tons is similar to that of the Chinese Type 075 assault ship. Some experts claimed that this exercise meant that the U.S. and its allies could gather intel on how to sink these huge, well-protected ships.

President Xi told the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, that America was trying to provoke China to attack Taiwan. President Xi said this in response to the States increasing the amount of weapons it was exporting to Taiwan, a country that China does not recognize as independent.

This international cooperation highlights the collaborative defense posture against common concerns in the region.

“This capability is an answer to an urgent need to quickly neutralize maritime threats,” stated the U.S. Navy.

Here, history and modern technology intersect dramatically.

Removing debris and contaminants from the ocean is crucial to preserving marine ecosystems, reflecting a responsible military ethos.

These operations are not just about flexing military muscle but enhancing regional security and cooperation.

During the Obama administration, the U.S. Navy showed its prowess by surfacing three U.S. Navy missile submarines off the coast of China in 2010. This was another demonstration of American strength in response to increasing clashes with China over Taiwan.  

As nations watch and react, the sinking of the USS Tarawa serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing strategic dance among global powers.