Question about the 7th fleet?

Question

Is 7th fleet is controlling the whole pacific ocean?
in 1996, China stop shooting missiles to taiwan in the rehersal, when the 7th fleet was driving thru the taiwan straight.
What if meanwhile china shoot (massive) missiles to the 7th fleet? I believe China was able to shoot hundreds of missiles as to the taiwan straight. Was their concern that China would be attacked by 7th fleet and hundreds of thousands of people would die, if they attack or even try to sink the 7th fleet. I just wonder why the 7th fleet was so confident that China would remain silent? If china lauched massive missiles (hundreds or thousands) to the US fleet, it was impossible for the 7th to avoid all of those missiles if they counter attack with massive patriots missiles. I mean at least some would hit it. the 7th fleet is always cruising in the west pacific ocean, what if North Korean or China for no reason attack it with (nuclear) missiles? If so the nuclear war is gonna begin?

Answer 1

China ain't that dumb. they will NOT risk going to war with the United States conventionally, let alone with Nukes.

as for Korea: Kim Jong Il is crazy, but he ain't THAT crazy. he too, is not willing to risk anhialation by attacking US assets.

and it isn't like the support vessels to the Flagship are all underway at the same time, and even if they are, they are hardly so close together as to all risk getting blown up in the same volley.

Answer 2

No, the 7th Fleet does not control the entire Pacific Ocean. The 7th Fleet is homeported in Yokosuka, Japan, and is responsible for the western Pacific. The 3rd Fleet out of San Diego is responsible for the eastern Pacific and sends fleet units on deployments to areas under the 5th and 7th Fleets.

If China were to use missile strikes on 7th Fleet ports, they would also be attacking Japan. Would China want to start a war with the United States and Japan?

Answer 3

The US Navy's 7th Fleet is an Administrative Organization to support the Task Forces under it's purview...

Yes, Task Force 70 sailed into the Formosa Straits when COMMUNIST China was popping missiles into the area as an "exercise". Task Force 70 was performing a "Freedom of Navigation" exercise within INTERNATIONAL waters. TF-70 is NOT configured to conduct landings in ANY way, and never entered PRC waters... so the PRC was NOT threatened. YES, if China had hit one of our ships, there would have been an international incident.

FYI, the US Navy does NOT have the Patriot Missile system.

Simply put, if the PRC or DPRK ever lob a nuc-weapon at the US or her Fleet... the probable US response is to respond it kind.