Nuclear-Powered Super-Carrier Participates In U.S-Japan Joint Naval Exercise

itnsource.com The USS George Washington, a nuclear-powered supercarrier, took part in a joint military naval drill with Japan on Thursday (November 28) in waters off southern Japan, just days after it participated in humanitarian relief operations in the Philippines. More than 20 ships and 7000 U.S. personnel participated in this year's Annual Exercise 2013 which aims at strengthening ties between the United States Navy and the Japan Maritime Self Defence force. While the U.S. Navy would not confirm the exact coordinates, they were able to say the event took place, at one point at least, some 300 kilometers (186 miles) south east of Japan's southern most the islands of Okinawa. This is in the general vicinity, though not within, the new airspace defense zone which China newly established last week. China's airspace defense zone claims have raised the stakes in a territorial standoff between Beijing and Tokyo over the area, which includes the tiny uninhabited islands known as the Senkaku in Japan and the Diaoyu in China. Japan claims they are part of the Okinawan islands. The zone includes the skies over the long-disputed islands and China said planes flying in the area would have to notify Chinese authorities. The United States defied China's demand that airplanes flying near the islands identify themselves to Chinese authorities, flying two unarmed B-52 bombers over the islands on Tuesday (November 26) without informing Beijing. to read more click here: itnsource.com