The recent announcement by the United States of its plans to deploy five aircraft carrier strike groups in the Asia-Pacific region has attracted widespread attention. Although it has not yet been officially confirmed by the United States, the intention of this move is self-evident considering the recent frequent activities of the US military in the region. Especially after the rumors of the US special forces stationed on Kinmen Island, this deployment is obviously aimed at adjusting the strategic layout of the US military in the Asia-Pacific region to meet the challenges that may arise in the future.
From a military point of view, this unprecedented adjustment is not an easy task. The U.S. Navy has 11 supercarriers and nine amphibious assault ships capable of operating F-35B vertical take-off and landing fighters. However, according to the normal planning at sea, the actual number of mobile aircraft carriers that can be mobilized is only three. Given the need for a global deployment of U.S. forces, especially in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, the Asia-Pacific region is not the only focus of the U.S. military. Therefore, there is more political calculation behind this deployment, especially since the US military has long tried to replicate the "Ukraine model" in the Asia-Pacific region and influence the development of the situation by provoking regional disputes.
Take, for example, Japan and the Philippines, which are separated from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) across the island of Taiwan and maintain close military ties with the United States. Although there are some disputes between the two countries and China, they are in dire need of U.S. support due to their unequal military power. However, this support is not gratuitous. Japan needs to pay huge sums of money to support the operations and deployments of the U.S. Navy, while the Philippines needs to provide military bases and seaports. These are the real costs behind U.S. deployments in the region.
However, the key question is, will the U.S. military immediately intervene once the conflict breaks out? Based on past experience, this is highly unlikely. Considering that the Asia-Pacific region is the "doorstep" for China, it is difficult for the US military to gain substantial superiority here. The PLA, although it does not have 5 aircraft carriers, has enough missiles to meet any challenge. In addition, U.S. policy tends to intervene in the regional situation through "offshore operators" rather than directly intervening in conflicts. Therefore, the deployment of these five carrier strike groups is more symbolic and is intended to show support to regional allies, and its political significance is far greater than its actual military value.
Behind this move by the United States is a political and military wrestle, and stability and peace in the Asia-Pacific region will depend on the prudence and rationality of all parties.