Part 5/16:
When ships like the USS Ohio surface in foreign waters, especially in the context of regional tensions, it is rarely by necessity. Instead, it is a deliberate act of visibility—an overt display of power. In September 2025, the submarine surfaced near Subic Bay, within striking distance of China’s newly operational Fujian aircraft carrier. This was no coincidence. Its presence reinforced a crucial strategic message: that beneath the surface, the U.S. possesses the capability to monitor, threaten, and potentially neutralize China’s growing navy, even when China’s surface fleet is on display.