A United States amphibious warship capable of projecting military power from sea to shore has begun its transit to Japan—the U.S.’s ally in Northeast Asia—for forward deployment.

The deployment of USS Tripoli—an America-class amphibious assault ship—demonstrates Washington’s commitment to the defense of Japan, the U.S. Pacific Fleet said on Monday. It added, “The security environment in the Indo-Pacific requires the most capable ships.”

Newsweek has contacted the Chinese Defense and Foreign ministries for comment by email.

Why It Matters

According to the U.S. Navy, amphibious warships are “capable of sailing in harm’s way” and enabling rapid combat power buildup ashore in the face of opposition. The Tripoli and other U.S. amphibious assault ships resemble small aircraft carriers, as they can carry fighter jets.

China, which challenges the U.S.’s naval dominance in the western Pacific Ocean with the world’s largest navy by hull count, has been rapidly building its own amphibious force for a potential island-landing campaign across the contested Taiwan Strait and South China Sea.

Japan, which hosts 55,000 U.S. military personnel, is part of the first island chain—along with Taiwan and the Philippines—under the U.S.’s maritime containment strategy, which seeks to restrict China’s access to the wider Pacific Ocean through U.S.-aligned territories.

What To Know

The Tripoli departed Naval Base San Diego in California on May 19 to forward-deploy to Sasebo in Japan, the U.S. Pacific Fleet announced, adding that the deployment was part of a “scheduled rotation” of forces in the region, as the Tripoli would replace its sister ship, USS America.

Photos taken by ship spotters show that the Tripoli arrived in Seal Beach—located north of San Diego—the following day, where it stayed for over a week before departing on May 29.

Captain Eddie Park, who has served as the Tripoli‘s commanding officer since mid-April, said the warship was ready to defend U.S. interests and strengthen the U.S.-Japan partnership. His deputy, Captain Patrick Sullivan, described the U.S.-Japan relationship as “vital.”

The forward presence of the Tripoli in Japan enhances U.S. national security and strengthens its ability to protect strategic interests, the U.S. Pacific Fleet said in a news release.

Meanwhile, officially released photos show the America—set to change its home port from Sasebo to San Diego—operating in the Philippine Sea as of Tuesday. The warship was seen conducting missile loading and flight operations with F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter jets.

What People Are Saying

Captain Eddie Park, the commanding officer of USS Tripoli, said in a news release: “I am extremely proud to lead this hard-working and motivated team of Sailors and Marines overseas to support security, stability and prosperity in this vital region.”

Captain Patrick Sullivan, the executive officer of USS Tripoli, said: “I’m honored and excited to return as the XO of such a highly capable warship to honor our nation’s security commitment to Japan.”

What Happens Next

It is unclear whether the Tripoli and the America will have an opportunity to conduct joint operations in the western Pacific Ocean before reaching their respective new home ports.