A U.S. Department of Defense-affiliated website posted information on Chinese warships operating off the U.S. coast on Sept. 12, claiming to have spotted three Chinese warships in the U.S. exclusive economic zone in the Aleutian Islands and publishing pictures of the scene. But hours later, the U.S. side removed the images for unknown reasons.
Two images released by the U.S. Department of Defense’s Dvidshub website on Sept. 12 were accompanied by an article stating that the U.S. Coast Guard patrol ship USCGC Bertholf (WMSL-750) was conducting “close surveillance” of Chinese naval vessels entering U.S. EEZ international waters near the Aleutian Islands on Aug. 30.
According to the images released by the U.S. side, three warships are shown underway, with the U.S. Coast Guard patrol ship following close behind the fleet. Two of the ships can be distinguished from the images as Chinese Type 055 destroyer, Type 052D destroyer, and a replenishment ship. However, the two photos were deleted from the Dvidshub website within hours of their release for unknown reasons.
According to a Sept. 13 report by Hong Kong’s EastNet, the U.S. side stressed that the interaction between the two sides was “safe and professional” and that the dialogue was conducted in accordance with the Rules for Unplanned Encounters at Sea developed by the Western Pacific Naval Forum and the international standards of the International Rules for Collision Avoidance at Sea.
According to a previous release from Japan’s Ministry of Defense, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force spotted three Chinese naval vessels sailing in a northeasterly direction around 12:00 noon on August 22 in waters approximately 105 kilometers southwest of Tsushima Island. Among them was the Type 055 destroyer Nanchang.
According to photos of the scene released by the Japanese Ministry of Defense, the Chinese naval fleet included the Type 052D destroyer Guiyang, the Type 055 destroyer Nanchang, and a large replenishment ship.
According to official news from the Chinese military, the Nanchang destroyer was on a drill in the Yellow Sea on Sept. 10, indicating that it had returned to China by then.