China and Russia have launched intelligence-gathering vessels to follow the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier as it travels toward the Korean Peninsula, multiple Japenese government sources told The Yomiuri Shimbun, as reported by The Associated Press.

The AP said it appears the two navies are hoping to track the movement of U.S. ships.

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The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and its group is believe to be in waters around the East China Sea and heading north toward the Korean Peninsula.

Deployment of the intelligence-gathering vessels appears to be aimed at sending a warning signal to the U.S., the AP reported.