The US Navy's Nimitz class nuclear powered aircraft carrier CVN-73 George Washington arrived at Manila Port in the Philippines on July 3, marking the first visit to the Philippines by the ship since its deployment in the Japanese front at the end of last year. The last time a US aircraft carrier visited the Philippines was on January 7th last year when the CVN-70 Carl Vinson docked in Manila, while the last time the Washington visited the Philippines was on October 24th, 2012 during its previous deployment in Japan. According to earlier reports, the USS Washington departed from Yokosuka Base in Japan on the 10th of last month for carrier qualification training with the 5th Carrier Air Wing (CVW-5) onboard. After completing the training on the 16th, the USS Washington immediately began its summer cruise. This is also the first operational deployment of the USS Washington since its arrival in Japan in late November last year. At present, the escort ships in the "Washington" aircraft carrier strike group include the "Ticonderoga" class missile cruiser CG-62 "Robert Smalls" and the "Arleigh Burke" class missile destroyer DDG-86 "Sharp". ABS-CBN, a local media outlet in the Philippines, also reported on the arrival of the USS Washington at Manila Port on July 3. According to a message posted by the US Embassy in the Philippines on social media, the USS Washington was located in the Pacific Ocean (also known as the Philippine Sea) east of the Philippines on Monday (June 30) and crossed the island chain into the South China Sea on Tuesday (July 1). From that day to Wednesday (July 2), the aircraft carrier received diplomatic personnel from US allies in the Philippines, including Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, and the UK, as well as local media in the Philippines who boarded the ship by plane. Due to the departure of the CVN-68 Nimitz Carrier Strike Group from the Middle East, the only remaining carrier force in the Indo Pacific region is the Washington Strike Group; In addition, there is the "US" amphibious readiness team currently operating in the Coral Sea, consisting of the "US" class amphibious assault ship LHA-6 "US", the "San Antonio" class amphibious dock transport ship LPD-22 "San Diego", the "Whidbey Island" class amphibious dock landing ship LSD-47 "Rushmore", and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Force. They are preparing to participate in the "Bodyguard Sabre-225" multinational joint exercise from August 13th to August 4th this month. The British "Prince of Wales" aircraft carrier strike group, which has just completed its visit to Singapore, will also travel to Australia to participate in the exercise. (New Society)