U.S. 7th Fleet commander says his fleet gets the preponderance of the latest weapons . The nature of the joint exercises with Japanese forces -- known as AnnualEx 2013 and involving more than 23 ships and 20,000 servicemen and women -- in part acknowledges this , he said , with the fleet deployed on a variety of `` graduate level '' missions , from anti-submarine warfare , to defending against hostile incursions against territory . Vice Admiral Robert L. Thomas says Asia region is now the most important strategically . The carrier strike group has been conducting exercises with Japan amid tension with China . TL;DR A Chinese warship sailed within 12 miles of a disputed island chain in the South China Sea on Tuesday, prompting an angry rebuke from Washington and Tokyo.
U.S. 7th Fleet commander says his fleet gets the preponderance of the latest weapons . Vice Admiral Robert L. Thomas says Asia region is now the most important strategically . The carrier strike group has been conducting exercises with Japan amid tension with China . TL;DR A Chinese warship sailed within 12 miles of a disputed island chain in the South China Sea on Tuesday, prompting an angry rebuke from Washington and Tokyo.