I have read numerous reports that the Kitty Hawk was dispatched to the area long before now. Here's one of them:

Mr. Bush said Japan will "share intelligence that will work cooperatively" in the diplomatic war on terrorism." Two Japanese newspapers reported Japan will send warships to the Indian Ocean as early as this week to carry out intelligence and surveillance missions. The squadron may accompany the USS Kitty Hawk, an aircraft carrier that left its base near Tokyo on Friday, (9/21/2001) the reports said.

Kitty Hawk

Not that this has anything to do with the price of tea in China but it is an example of conflicting reports that are becoming more and more common.