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By Ryan Chan
China News Reporter
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A Newsweek map tracks the movement of the oldest operational United States naval ship in the South Pacific Ocean, where Chinese warships recently conducted a show of force.
USS Blue Ridge, a U.S. Navy command and control ship and the flagship of the Japan-based U.S. Seventh Fleet, conducts patrols to deter aggression, the ship's public affairs office said.
Newsweek has reached out to the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment by email.
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Why It Matters
China is seeking to challenge U.S. naval dominance in the Pacific Ocean with its rapidly expanding navy—the largest in the world by hull count. From mid-February to early March, it sent a three-ship naval task group to the South Pacific Ocean to circumnavigate Australia.
The Chinese navy also visited Vanuatu, an island country in the South Pacific Ocean, last October, as Beijing and its rival, Washington, continue to jostle for influence in the region.
Commissioned in 1970, the Blue Ridge is one of several U.S. naval vessels—including an aircraft carrier—deployed in Japan. It is equipped with high-powered computers for processing information and data, providing command and control coordination capabilities.
What To Know
The Blue Ridge was spotted off its home port of Yokosuka naval base in Japan on April 3. Its first port of call after leaving Japan was Cairns in northeastern Australia, where it stayed from April 16 to 20 to replenish fuel and supplies for its patrol in the Indo-Pacific region.
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Following its stop in Australia, the command ship transited eastward to New Caledonia, a French territory in the Pacific Ocean. It visited Nouméa—the territory's capital city—from April 26 to May 1, aiming to strengthen the alliance between the U.S. and France.
After leaving port, the Blue Ridge participated in a French-led military exercise, code-named Croix du Sud, in the Coral Sea near the French territory. The multinational drill featured surface action group operations, command and control capabilities, and information sharing.
The Blue Ridge continued eastward and reached Suva in Fiji on May 5, making its third port call during the patrol. The visit—concluded on May 9—demonstrated the role of the U.S.-Fiji partnership in fostering peace and security, according to the ship's public affairs office.
The nearly 19,000-ton ship headed south after departing Fiji and made its first visit to New Zealand on Friday, docking in Wellington. Vice Admiral Fred Kacher, head of the U.S. Seventh Fleet, said the "historic port visit" reflected the deep ties between the two countries.
What People Are Saying
The U.S. Seventh Fleet said: "U.S. [Seventh] Fleet staff, embarked aboard USS Blue Ridge, [command] the world's largest forward-deployed fleet with the primary mission of providing operational control and planning for its forces in the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans, while promoting regional stability and maritime security through engagements with allies and partners."
U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Fred Kacher, commander of the U.S. Seventh Fleet, said: "The U.S. and France are Pacific nations, and our navies routinely operate together to preserve a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific…The U.S. [Seventh] Fleet's participation in Croix du Sud is testament to our longstanding alliance with France and our shared commitment to advancing our combined warfighting capabilities in this theater."
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen where the Blue Ridge will make its next stop during its patrol, which aims to strengthen alliances and partnerships and advance operational effectiveness.
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