US to deploy five aircraft carriers in western Pacific in show of strength to China

The US is likely to deploy nearly half of its aircraft carriers in the western Pacific this year, in a signal of deterrence against the increasing military activity in the region by China and North Korea.

Three US aircraft carriers are already operating in the western Pacific Ocean, with two more on the way. Their arrival will mark the first time that five of the 11-strong carrier contingent have operated in the region, according to South China Morning Post.

The USS Abraham Lincoln - part of the US Navy's Pacific Fleet - was spotted heading out of its home port in San Diego, California and was sailing towards the western Pacific as of February 5, according to the US Naval Institute's Fleet and Marine Tracker.

The USS George Washington is also expected to be deployed in the region to replace the USS Ronald Reagan, which will be relocating from Yokosuka, Japan for maintenance at the Puget Sound naval shipyard in Washington.

The USS George Washington was the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to be deployed to Japan, where it served from 2008-15 before it was relieved by the Ronald Reagan for the midlife refuel of its two reactors, as well as repairs, upgrades and modernisation.

In addition to the USS Ronald Reagan, the USS Carl Vinson and USS Theodore Roosevelt were stationed in Guam and Hawaii, respectively on February 12 and are expected to stay in the western Pacific until April and July.

Last month, the Theodore Roosevelt and Carl Vinson strike groups took part in a Multi-Large Deck Event with Japan in the Philippine Sea that included enhanced maritime communication operations, air warfare operations, and cross-deck flight operations.

According to the US Navy 7th Fleet, the exercise was intended "to strengthen maritime integrated-at-sea operations and combat readiness".