"Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock."
—Will Rogers
pronounced 'rawk'.
From The Honolulu Advertiser, May 18:
Navy sends subs to sea as message to China
The Pacific Fleet Submarine Force took the unusual step this month of announcing that all of its forward-deployed subs were simultaneously conducting “contingency response operations” at sea in the Western Pacific — downplaying the notion that Navy forces have been hampered by COVID-19.The sub force said the missions were mounted in support of the Pentagon’s “free and open Indo- Pacific” policy aimed at countering China’s expansionism in the South China Sea.At least seven submarines, and likely more — including all four Guam- based attack submarines, the San Diego-based USS Alexandria and multiple Hawaii-based vessels — are part of the effort.The action also highlights the Pentagon’s desire to be flexible and unpredictable in “great power” competition with China and Russia.“Our operations are a demonstration of our willingness to defend our interests and freedoms under international law,” Rear Adm. Blake Converse, Pacific sub force commander, who is based at Pearl Harbor, said in a May 8 release.Attack submarines maintain an outsize stealth capability to sink ships with torpedoes, fire Tomahawk cruise missiles and conduct covert surveillance while keeping adversaries guessing their location....
....MUCH MORE
The Advertiser said "unusual". It's actually unheard of.
Literally (submarines don't usually give you a heads-up)
And the Navy put out a press release:
Story Number: NNS200511-08Release Date: 5/11/2020 9:16:00 AM
From Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs
Pacific Fleet Submarines: Lethal, Agile, Underway
PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (NNS) -- The U.S. Pacific Fleet submarine force currently has every one of its forward-deployed submarines conducting contingency response operations at sea in the Western Pacific, in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region amidst the pandemic caused by the Coronavirus.
The Navy’s submarine force has unique access to a critical undersea domain. The ability to rapidly deploy is a key component to the Pacific Fleet’s ability to respond to crisis and conflict throughout the Indo-Pacific region. While underway, the submarines are conducting combat readiness training and employing undersea warfare capabilities in support of a wide-range of missions.
“Our submarine force has proven time and again they are ready to operate anytime, anywhere,” said commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Rear Adm. Blake Converse. “The Pacific Fleet submarine force remains lethal, agile and ready to fight tonight.”
U.S. Navy operations in the region are aimed at underpinning the peace and stability that has enabled the Indo-Pacific region to develop and prosper for more than seven decades.
“Our operations are a demonstration of our willingness to defend our interests and freedoms under international law,” Converse said....MORE
And just to make things interesting maybe the U.S. could rent a couple of those super-quiet little Swedish subs:
In 2005, the USS Ronald Reagan met its match in the form of a single, diesel-powered Swedish submarine. During war games, the plucky submarine was able to sneak through the passive sonar defenses ...
