Two US aircraft carriers start drills off Philippines

Two US aircraft carriers have started exercises in the Philippine Sea, defence officials said June 19, as Washington’s close ally Manila faces growing pressure from Beijing in the South China Sea.

This photo taken on June 18, 2016 and released June 19, 2016 by the US Navy shows a flight formation of Boeing F/A-18E and F Super Hornets from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 and 9 above the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) in the Philippine Sea. Two US aircraft carriers have started exercises in the Philippine Sea, defence officials said June 19, as Washington's close ally Manila faces growing pressure from Beijing in the South China Sea. / AFP PHOTO / US NAVY / STEVE SMITH / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / US NAVY / STEVE SMITH" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
This photo taken on June 18, 2016 and released June 19, 2016 by the US Navy shows a flight formation of Boeing F/A-18E and F Super Hornets from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 and 9 above the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) in the Philippine Sea. Two US aircraft carriers have started exercises in the Philippine Sea, defence officials said June 19, as Washington’s close ally Manila faces growing pressure from Beijing in the South China Sea. /AFP PHOTO /US NAVY/STEVE SMITH/

 

This photo taken on June 18, 2016 and released June 19, 2016 by the US Navy shows a flight formation from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 and 9 above the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) in the Philippine Sea. Two US aircraft carriers have started exercises in the Philippine Sea, defence officials said June 19, as Washington's close ally Manila faces growing pressure from Beijing in the South China Sea. / AFP PHOTO / US NAVY / TOMAS COMPIAN / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / US NAVY / TOMAS COMPIAN" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
This photo taken on June 18, 2016 and released June 19, 2016 by the US Navy shows a flight formation from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 and 9 above the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) in the Philippine Sea. Two US aircraft carriers have started exercises in the Philippine Sea, defense officials said June 19, as Washington’s close ally Manila faces growing pressure from Beijing in the South China Sea. /AFP PHOTO/US NAVY/TOMAS COMPIAN/