[International] Decoding International / US Aircraft Carriers Depart Asia, China May Seize Opportunity
RtiTalk 小編9d ago
Associated Press reported that U.S. President Donald Trump's war with Iran is pushing U.S. aircraft carriers to their limits, and at a time when China is showing more signs of aggression, there are no U.S. aircraft carriers deployed in the Western Pacific.
The USS George Washington is leaving the Pacific to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East. The Lincoln's prolonged deployment has raised concerns about the mental health and supply issues on board. The Lincoln's return to its homeport, originally scheduled for May, has been extended to support military operations against Iran.
If the Navy redeploys in the coming months, the absence of U.S. aircraft carriers in the Pacific may be a short-term phenomenon. However, analysts point out that this also shows that endless military operations against Iran have exhausted some U.S. sailors, and the Trump administration is further shifting its focus from the Asia-Pacific region to the Western Hemisphere.
Gregory Poling, director of the Southeast Asia Program at the U.S. think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), said, "The government says the Pacific is second only to the Western Hemisphere in importance," but what the U.S. is doing is "exactly the opposite" of its stated goal of withdrawing from the Middle East.
Poling said that U.S. allies in the Pacific are uneasy about the Trump administration's unpredictability, while Beijing is "delighted by America's distraction and the frustration of America's allies and partners."
China May Exploit U.S. Carrier Absence
Beijing views the presence of the U.S. military in the Asia-Pacific as a threat to China's rise and an obstacle to its ambitions regarding Taiwan. However, the U.S. argues that it cannot afford to lose the Pacific region due to its economic importance.
Bryan Clark, a senior fellow at the right-leaning Hudson Institute in Washington and a former naval officer, believes that no one expects China to invade Taiwan because U.S. aircraft carriers have left the region, but the absence of carriers will give China an opportunity to demonstrate its strength.
Clark said, "They will use this to show the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, and other countries the narrative that the United States is no longer the hegemon of the Western Pacific," and "They want regional countries to recognize that China is a stronger power and that the United States can no longer guarantee their security."
U.S. Special Operations Command Commander General Frank Bradley attempted to reassure regional allies of Washington's commitment. Speaking in Manila on the 13th, he said U.S. special forces are ready to enhance exercises and consolidate the bilateral alliance.
Bradley stated, "The United States has the capability to project power anywhere in the world," and "When the threats in the Middle East are resolved, we will redeploy and reorient to project power where it may be needed."
Bradley added, "I am also confident in the Philippine armed forces' ability to defend their sovereignty, and we will continue to work closely with them."
Evan Sankey, an analyst at the Cato Institute who studies U.S. policy toward China, said that aircraft carriers provide psychological security for U.S. allies. Sankey noted that the lack of aircraft carriers in the Asia-Pacific "will deepen the general perception that the United States is being distracted by the situation in the Middle East."
Trump's Military Operations Rely on Aircraft Carriers
In his second term, Trump has heavily relied on aircraft carriers to support military operations. For example, the USS Gerald R. Ford returned to its homeport in mid-May after a 11-month deployment, the longest since the Vietnam War. The Ford supported U.S. operations against Iran and the operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
A fire in the Ford's laundry room recently forced it back to the Mediterranean for repairs, leaving hundreds of sailors homeless. Meanwhile, the Lincoln set a record for continuous at-sea operations for over 240 days, with reports of deteriorating living conditions and crew mental health issues.
Clark said the pressure on U.S. aircraft carriers stems from a lack of preparation and planning for the war in Iran.
Clark stated, "If we were to mobilize for such a conflict, we would anticipate how long it would last and make some adjustments to carrier deployment schedules to ensure more carriers are available."
Clark noted that the Navy has 11 aircraft carriers, typically deploying two or three at a time. However, if the USS Theodore Roosevelt were to leave San Diego for the Middle East, allowing the USS George Washington to return to the Pacific, the number of deployed carriers could quickly reach four.
But aircraft carriers require maintenance, and this could create bottlenecks at the U.S.'s only two aircraft carrier shipyards.
Clark pointed out, "We may be paying off maintenance debt for years to come," and "Our carrier numbers may be lower in the coming years due to carriers waiting in line for maintenance."
Do Aircraft Carriers Still Matter in Modern Warfare?
Michael Swaine, director of the East Asia Program at the Quincy Institute, a Washington think tank, questions whether aircraft carriers will still be needed as warfare rapidly evolves.
Swaine said that aircraft carriers are vulnerable targets for drones and missiles, especially against adversaries like China. Smaller vessels and submarines can be just as effective in striking targets as fighter jets launched from aircraft carriers. Senior naval officials have also expressed a desire to reduce over-reliance on aircraft carriers. U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Daryl Caudle told the Associated Press in February that he hopes to persuade commanders to use smaller, newer vessels and other assets rather than constantly relying on massive aircraft carriers. (Editor: Liu Xianghua)
Source Link: https://www.rti.org.tw/news?uid=3&pid=226503
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