South China Sea: US Navy's Double Trouble

In a single day, the US Navy faced two unexpected setbacks in the South China Sea. A helicopter and a fighter jet both went down during routine operations. Luckily, all crew members were rescued safely. The Navy is now looking into what went wrong. The incidents happened just hours apart. First, a helicopter called an MH-60R Seahawk had trouble while working from the USS Nimitz. Three crew members were quickly found and brought to safety. Then, a short time later, an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet also had issues. Both crew members on board managed to eject safely and were rescued. The South China Sea is a busy and disputed area. Many countries, including China, have claims over parts of it. China has been building up its military presence there, which has been a concern for the US. The US Navy's operations in the area are part of a bigger plan to keep the sea routes open and safe. These crashes come at a tense time. President Donald Trump is in Asia for a diplomacy tour and is expected to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The two countries have been in a trade dispute, but there are signs of easing tensions. The US and China have recently reached a framework trade agreement, which could help smooth things over during the upcoming meeting. This isn't the first time the Navy has faced such incidents. Earlier this year, two Super Hornet jets were lost in the Red Sea. Each of these jets costs over $60 million. The USS Nimitz, one of the largest warships in the world, is also set to retire next year. It's currently the oldest US aircraft carrier still in service.