[The World Through Weapons] Aircraft Carrier Turned into a COVID-19 Culture Dish

On the 16th (local time), a COVID-19 case was detected, and the French nuclear aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is undergoing quarantine at the port of Toulon, France.
[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Following the U.S. aircraft carriers, the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has also spread significantly on a French aircraft carrier, drawing global attention. Before the fear from the cruise ship 'Diamond Princess,' which was quarantined off the coast of Yokohama, Japan, and had over 700 confirmed cases, had fully subsided, COVID-19 has again spread on a large vessel, causing tension in the global shipping industry.

According to foreign media including the Associated Press on the 17th (local time), about half of the crew members on the escort ships of the French nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle tested positive for COVID-19. The Charles de Gaulle carrier strike group has 2,300 crew members, of whom 1,081 tested positive. This is the second time worldwide that COVID-19 cases have been confirmed on an aircraft carrier, following the U.S. nuclear-powered carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, where 589 were infected and one death occurred.

Since COVID-19 has spread worldwide, it is difficult to determine exactly where the infection occurred among the ports of call. Aircraft carriers, depending on their size, carry from about 2,000 to over 7,000 crew members, comparable to the size of a small city, so even one confirmed case can quickly spread. The U.S. Navy’s main Nimitz-class carriers carry over 6,000 personnel, have their own post office and broadcasting station, and produce more than 2 tons of laundry daily.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Like cruise ships, these many crew members eat in the same spaces and live in cramped cabins, making it even easier for the highly contagious coronavirus to spread. The coronavirus can survive in the air for more than 24 hours and on plastic or metal surfaces for up to 72 hours. It can spread to many people through various handrails and handles inside the ship.

The problem is that these carrier strike groups are irreplaceable forces. The U.S. operates 11 aircraft carrier strike groups worldwide, which are important strategic assets for maintaining deterrence in each region. The combat power of one carrier strike group is comparable to the entire military power of many countries. However, with COVID-19 cases reported on four U.S. carriers, concerns about security gaps are growing.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt, a US aircraft carrier where COVID-19 cases were detected [Image source=AP Yonhap News]

On the 9th, China Central Television (CCTV) reported that the U.S. military might find it difficult to operate aircraft carriers in the Asia-Pacific region for the next two to three months. Chao Weidong, a researcher at the Chinese Naval Research Institute, stated, "Considering that carrier crew members are difficult to replace once infected, the U.S. military will likely find it hard to operate carriers in the Asia-Pacific region for the next two to three months." So far, COVID-19 cases have been reported not only on the USS Theodore Roosevelt but also on the USS Nimitz, USS Ronald Reagan, and USS Carl Vinson.

There are forecasts that the U.S. military’s response to movements by North Korea and China may weaken amid this security gap. On the 12th, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense expressed concern after China’s aircraft carrier Liaoning and five escort ships passed through the Miyako Strait between Taiwan and Okinawa and continued sailing in the eastern waters off Taiwan. If the COVID-19 situation persists, there are growing concerns that it will have a significant impact on regional security.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.