Biggest U.S. Military Exercise since the Cold War

While the U.S. military introduces the U.S. Forces’ Global Posture Realignment (GPR) program based on its cross-regional strategy, the biggest naval exercise since the end of the Cold War has been staged, involving seven aircraft carriers.

It was reported in the Global Times (a People’s Daily Company) in China and in the San Diego Union Tribune on June 10 that the aircraft carrier exercise is simultaneously being operated in several regions worldwide. Many countries are paying great attention because the exercise is to test a new strategy of rapid deployment capabilities.

China, in particular, is reacting sensitively, saying this exercise is preparing for a “double banks” war between China and Taiwan.

For the exercise, four aircraft carriers from the Atlantic squadron, and three from the Pacific squadron will be deployed from the 12 total aircraft carriers the U.S. military has. The exercise will last for three months from June 5 until August with over 50,000 soldiers taking part.

In the East Pacific area, all seven aircraft carriers will gather to perform a joint drill from mid-July to August.

A senior officer in the U.S. Navy said, “The U.S. is one of the Pacific countries and it needs to prepare for any type of conflict in the area,” implying that the exercise is not only to prepare for a “double banks” war but also for a North Korean violation.

Also, the newly established U.S. Navy‘s “21st century 10-30-30 strategy” will be applied to the exercise for the first time. In April, U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld presented the 10-30-30 strategy as one in which “the services would deploy to a world hot spot within 10 days, defeat an enemy in 30 days, and be ready to fight again in another 30 days.”

Yoo-Seong Hwang yshwang@donga.com