Map Shows US ‘Special Mission' Ship in Waters Near China
A specialized United States naval vessel capable of collecting critical underwater data was recently tracked operating in the contested South China Sea, according to a Newsweek map.
The U.S. Seventh Fleet, which maintains America's naval presence in the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans, confirmed to Newsweek that USNS Victorious, an ocean surveillance ship, was operating in the South China Sea as part of what it called "routine operations."
Newsweek has also contacted the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment by email.
Territorial disputes in the energy-rich South China Sea remain unresolved, with overlapping sovereignty claims by several countries-including China and the Philippines-frequently leading to confrontations and clashes at sea between maritime forces of rival claimants.
Strategically, the South China Sea serves as a vital gateway for naval deployments between the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Both the U.S. and China maintain a persistent naval presence in the region-including the deployment of aircraft carriers-as they jostle for dominance.
Using open-source ship-tracking data, a Newsweek map shows that the Victorious has been operating in the South China Sea since at least May 22, when it was spotted in the Luzon Strait-a waterway connecting the South China Sea and the Philippine Sea-heading south.
The map shows the ocean surveillance ship, equipped with a Surveillance Towed-Array Sensor System (SURTASS) for collecting undersea acoustic data in support of anti-submarine warfare, was last tracked underway in the central South China Sea on Tuesday.
A Chinese think tank, the South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative, claimed that the Victorious operated "intensively" near the Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal.
China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Brunei have all laid claim to the Spratly Islands, while Scarborough Shoal-a fishing ground located within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone-has been under Chinese control since 2012 after a standoff.
The Victorious' mission remains unclear. The ship was spotted transiting southward through the Uraga Channel-located south of Tokyo, Japan-in early May. It is also one of the so-called "Special Mission" ships that support U.S. military and other government operations.
The presence of a U.S. ocean surveillance ship, tasked with detecting and tracking undersea threats, coincides with China's stationing of its nuclear-powered submarines at a base facing the South China Sea, which includes an underground facility designed to protect them.
The U.S. Seventh Fleet said in a statement to Newsweek: "Every day the U.S. [Seventh] Fleet operates to protect security, freedom, and prosperity for the U.S. and our allies and partners."
An unnamed spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on June 1: "On the South China Sea, there has never been any problem with regard to freedom of navigation and overflight there … It is the U.S. who is the primary factor that is hurting the peace and stability in the South China Sea."
China continues to enhance its presence in the South China Sea by deploying naval and Coast Guard vessels, asserting its sovereignty claims in the disputed waters.
Related Articles
Satellite Photo Shows US Fighters and Bombers at Key Air BaseIran Threatens Israel's Nuclear Sites as Trump Blocks Strike PlanChina Releases Photos of Aircraft Carriers Beyond First Island ChainHow to Watch United States vs Switzerland: Live Stream Men's International Friendly, TV Channel
2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Merdeka Center poll: 73pc of Malaysians say economy is top issue, Anwar gets 55pc approval rating
KUALA LUMPUR, June 26 — A total of 73 per cent of Malaysian voters identified economic issues as the biggest problem facing the country, according to a new mid-term survey by Merdeka Center on the performance of the Madani administration. According to the center's 'National Survey Highlights May 2025' report, when respondents were asked to name their top concerns, they pointed to inflation (33 per cent), economic growth (13 per cent), corruption (seven per cent), Also cited were job opportunities (seven per cent), and issues related to Malay rights and fair treatment of all races (seven per cent). Concerns over racial issues and public safety were comparatively low, at just three per cent each. 'Concerns over instability have evaporated, but there is a slight rise in [concerns regarding] identity politics (protection of Malay rights),' said the center. Leadership and governance ratings Despite these concerns, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's approval rating stood at 55 per cent, up from 53 per cent in December 2024. A further 36 per cent expressed dissatisfaction, while nine per cent were neutral. According to the centre, Anwar's ability to maintain a two-thirds majority in Parliament and provide political stability was credited for easing public anxiety over governance. Satisfaction with the overall performance of the government was evenly split, with 50 per cent expressing satisfaction and 48 per cent dissatisfaction. 'Public sentiments on the direction of the country shows 50 per cent of the voters surveyed think the country is headed in the wrong direction (compared to 61 per cent one year ago), while the number of voters that think the country is heading in the right direction improved to 43 per cent compared to 29 per cent in June 2024. 'The major reasons for the wrong direction remain focused on the trajectory of the national economy and the performance of the current administration,' the survey said. Demographic breakdown of public sentiment Among those who believed the country was heading in the wrong direction, 68 per cent were Indian respondents, followed by 55 per cent Malay and 43 per cent Chinese. According to Merdeka Center, by age group, those aged 51 to 60 made up the highest percentage of respondents who believed the government was on the wrong track, at 59 per cent. Meanwhile, younger respondents aged 21 to 30 were more optimistic, with 54 per cent saying the country was heading in the right direction. Macroeconomic trends 'In terms of the economy, government data indicates that inflation has cooled to just 1.4 per cent in March 2025 — a three-year low — and economic growth hit 4.4 per cent in the first quarter. The government's minimum wage hike to RM1,700, combined with festive cash aid for civil servants and ongoing fuel subsidies, has helped ease some public frustration over the cost of living. 'While the survey continues to show that the public's top concerns remain the economy, the absence of price shocks despite the withdrawal of diesel fuel subsidies in 2024, has helped ease sentiments,' said the center. The survey was carried out by the Merdeka Center between May 12 and 23, 2025, to gauge voters' perceptions of current developments. A total of 1,208 registered voters were surveyed, comprising 52 per cent Malay, 29 per cent Chinese, seven per cent Indian, six per cent Muslim Bumiputera, and six per cent non-Muslim Bumiputera (from Sabah and Sarawak). Respondents were interviewed via fixed line and mobile telephones, selected through random stratified sampling across age group, ethnicity, gender, and state constituency.
Newsweek
31 minutes ago
- Newsweek
'Mass Layoff' Provision in Trump Bill Sparks Alarm: 'Deeply Concerning'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A provision in the Senate budget bill would allow for millions of dollars to go directly toward President Donald Trump and the administration's ability to lay off federal workers without the consent of Congress. It is a move that Ben Olinsky, senior vice president of Structural Reform and Governance at the Center for American Progress, called "deeply, deeply concerning." The provision, written by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, would give $100 million to the Office of Budget Management (OMB), according to Government Executive. The office is run by Project 2025 author Russ Vought, a proponent of mass government layoffs, which are a central tenet of Project 2025. President Donald Trump talks with reporters in the Oval Office of the White House on June 18, 2025, in Washington. President Donald Trump talks with reporters in the Oval Office of the White House on June 18, 2025, in Washington. Alex Brandon/AP Photo Olinsky referenced the lawsuits by federal employees fired by Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts, telling Newsweek: "[This bill is] exactly the kind of thing that the president has been trying to do, I would say, illegally, as he seeks to shut down departments or agencies, or limit [agencies] to a handful of staff down from 1000s and do large mass layoffs and other kinds of cuts to entire functions or programs." Those in favor of the bill have said: "Any president should have the ability to clear the waste he or she has identified without obstruction." Newsweek contacted Senator Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican and chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, via email for comment. Why It Matters Many of the people affected by mass federal layoffs initiated by DOGE at the start of Trump's second term are now in court as they were made without congressional approval. The provision would allow for federal employees to be fired with little to no legal recourse. Olinsky told Newsweek that it would lead to current and future distrust in the government by federal workers. Federal work used to be a lesser paid but significantly more stable line of work. If the provision passes, federal work will be seen as a much less realistic plan for long-term employment and will result in bright and capable Americans choosing to work in the private sector. What To Know The provision of the bill, which is the Senate's version of Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" passed by the House, appears in a section about government spending and reorganization by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. It would revitalize a provision last used in 1984 that allows the president to reorganize the federal government. However, Olinsky explained to Newsweek that it differs from the 1984 provision in one significant way. "Those previous reorganization authorities that were granted to the president still had a role for Congress," he said. Congress then had a certain amount of time to either approve or disapprove of the plan, and that determined whether the president's plan could go into effect. "In the current reorganization language, it says that most of the statute that's currently on the books, or that was on the books through 1984, will not apply," Olinsky said. "And it basically says the president can put together a reorganization plan, and as long as it's making government smaller, it is deemed approved. "So, there would be no further review by Congress, no further action. It would simply be automatic. It is approved by this language without [Congress] having seen it first. That is dramatically concerning to me." Senator Rand Paul, chair of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, talks with reporters in the Russell building on June 17, 2025, in Washington. Senator Rand Paul, chair of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, talks with reporters in the Russell building on June 17, 2025, in Washington. Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via AP Images Olinsky added: "The executive actions that the Trump administration has been taking are absolutely taking Project 2025, the most extreme parts of it, and putting them into effect. And, actually going much further in many cases." Project 2025 says that the president should be able to " employees." It speaks in broad terms about federal employees, whom its authors see as part of the "federal bureaucracy." "Federal employees are often ideologically aligned—not with the majority of the American people, but with one another, posing a profound problem for republican government, a government "of, by, and for" the people," Project 2025 says. Olinsky said that people fired as a result of DOGE cuts could continue their suits in court, but anyone fired under the new provision would not have a case against the government. He said the only means of legal recourse for fired employees would be if mass firings reduced the government's ability to monitor enforcement functions. For example, if the White House fired every member of an agency that oversaw labor standards, someone could potentially sue and say their firing undermined government enforcement work. Other critics of this move say it directly undermines Congress' ability to govern, as government spending is one of Congress' primary responsibilities. Olinsky said there is a chance the Senate parliamentarian rules that the provision defies the Byrd Rule, which says that all reconciliation packages have to focus on budget issues and cannot stray into other parts of government. Olinsky believes the provision violates the Byrd Rule, but whether enough members of the Senate and/or the parliamentarian believe the same is "an open question," he said. What People Are Saying Ben Olinsky, senior vice president of Structural Reform and Governance at the Center for American Progress, told Newsweek: "This [bill] would basically give [Trump] carte blanche to refashion the entire federal government in ways that he likes. "Now, even under this language, it basically means you have to make the government smaller, not larger. But there's a lot of playing you could do to assist with [Trump's] priorities and stifle functions of government that he just doesn't like. "This should be deeply, deeply concerning to anyone." The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: "This provision would reestablish the authority for a president to reorganize government as long as these plans do not result in an increase in federal agencies and the plan does not result in an increase in federal spending." What Happens Next The House does not have a similar rule, so if the provision remains in the Senate version of the bill, it cannot be removed through a parliamentarian complaint to the Bird Rule by the House.
The Hill
an hour ago
- The Hill
US asks China to stop Iran from closing Strait of Hormuz
Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday urged China to intervene to prevent Iran from closing the Strait of Hormuz, which is one of the most important shipping routes for the world. In an interview on Fox News Channel's 'Sunday Morning Futures,' host Maria Bartiromo asked Rubio whether he expected Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz in an effort to disrupt oil transportation globally. 'I would encourage the Chinese government in Beijing to call them about that, because they heavily depend on the Straits of Hormuz for their oil,' Rubio replied. As the world braces for possible retaliation from Iran — after the United States bombed three of its nuclear sites on Saturday — Rubio warned on Sunday that closing the vital strait would be 'economic suicide' for Tehran. He also warned that other countries could intervene if Iran takes that step. 'If they do that, it'll be another terrible mistake. It's economic suicide for them if they do it,' Rubio said. 'And we retain options to deal with that.' 'But other countries should be looking at that as well,' he added. 'It would hurt other countries' economies a lot worse than ours. It would be, I think, a massive escalation that would merit a response not just by us but from others.' A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Guo Jiakun, deflected when asked on Monday what China would do if Iran closed the strait, saying the international community should 'step up its efforts to promote the de-escalation of the conflict,' The New York Times reported. Rubio made clear in the Fox Business interview that the U.S. would only strike again if Iran retaliates. 'What happens next will depend on what they do,' he said. 'They want to negotiate, we're ready to negotiate. They want to get cute and do things that are dangerous, we have responses available that are devastating.' The Iranian Parliament on Sunday approved a measure to close the Strait of Hormuz after the United States bombed nuclear sites in Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow, the last of which is located inside a mountain Closing the strait, located between Iran and Oman, could have serious implications for both the global and U.S. economy. The Strait of Hormuz's width and depth allow it to handle the world's largest crude oil tankers, and very few alternatives exist if it is closed, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), making it a critical choke point for oil shipments. Approximately 20 million barrels, or 20 percent of global consumption, flowed through the strait in 2024.
