F-22Raptor
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This Saturday’s three carrier strike group exercise will counterbalance China's confidence that it has manipulated President Trump in Beijing.
As I warned on Wednesday, President Xi is attempting to woo Trump by adorning him with imperial pomp. He might be succeeding.
On Thursday, Trump struck a remarkably soft tone towards Xi, praising him on a range of issues from the U.S. trade deficit to his leadership style. While Trump might simply be showing public respect for his host while pushing hard for concessions behind the scenes, he risks appearing malleable. As a case in point, Trump's twitter feed now looks like a Maoist propaganda account. This won't help move Xi towards corralling Kim Jong Un.
Fortunately, the three-carrier exercise helps redirect Xi’s attention.
As I noted when these carrier deployments were first announced, it seemed obvious that the U.S. wanted to grab China's attention. While China loathes the presence of formidable U.S. military assets in their region, this is particularly true of aircraft carriers in that China lacks a credible carrier strike force of its own. The carriers are thus a reminder of both of American military power and the uniqueness of that power. Yet by flaunting U.S. military power in the Western Pacific, the U.S. is showing China the future to expect if North Korea doesn't back down.
The key here is China's understanding that it will share in the negative ramifications of an unresolved Korean nuclear crisis.
Still, the carrier exercise also offers other benefits.
For one, it will refine the U.S. Navy’s war-fighting readiness. While three carrier groups offer a very significant offensive and defensive striking capability, the complexities of such a large joint operation are significant. As such, this exercise will allow the 7th Fleet's commander to learn what needs improving. Again, that will strengthen the Navy's readiness to conduct military operations in the region.
That notion of "operations in the region" brings us back to the Chinese question. After all, whether in terms of submarines, surface vessels or anti-ship missiles, North Korea's naval offensive capability is weak (albeit improving). Beyond defending against a massed North Korean air assault, we must assume that any defensive elements of this three-carrier exercise will be focused on China's far more potent carrier-threat capabilities. It's rare that three carriers are together at the same time, so Pacific Command will want to maximize this opportunity.
Regardless, the simple takeaway is that this exercise is good news for both tactical and strategic reasons. It helps the U.S. military prepare to fight and it demands China's uncomfortable attention.
Whatever Trump says to Xi in Beijing, you can bet the Chinese leader won't like the U.S. military pageant on display this weekend.
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/b...will-upset-china-this-weekend/article/2640177
As I warned on Wednesday, President Xi is attempting to woo Trump by adorning him with imperial pomp. He might be succeeding.
On Thursday, Trump struck a remarkably soft tone towards Xi, praising him on a range of issues from the U.S. trade deficit to his leadership style. While Trump might simply be showing public respect for his host while pushing hard for concessions behind the scenes, he risks appearing malleable. As a case in point, Trump's twitter feed now looks like a Maoist propaganda account. This won't help move Xi towards corralling Kim Jong Un.
Fortunately, the three-carrier exercise helps redirect Xi’s attention.
As I noted when these carrier deployments were first announced, it seemed obvious that the U.S. wanted to grab China's attention. While China loathes the presence of formidable U.S. military assets in their region, this is particularly true of aircraft carriers in that China lacks a credible carrier strike force of its own. The carriers are thus a reminder of both of American military power and the uniqueness of that power. Yet by flaunting U.S. military power in the Western Pacific, the U.S. is showing China the future to expect if North Korea doesn't back down.
The key here is China's understanding that it will share in the negative ramifications of an unresolved Korean nuclear crisis.
Still, the carrier exercise also offers other benefits.
For one, it will refine the U.S. Navy’s war-fighting readiness. While three carrier groups offer a very significant offensive and defensive striking capability, the complexities of such a large joint operation are significant. As such, this exercise will allow the 7th Fleet's commander to learn what needs improving. Again, that will strengthen the Navy's readiness to conduct military operations in the region.
That notion of "operations in the region" brings us back to the Chinese question. After all, whether in terms of submarines, surface vessels or anti-ship missiles, North Korea's naval offensive capability is weak (albeit improving). Beyond defending against a massed North Korean air assault, we must assume that any defensive elements of this three-carrier exercise will be focused on China's far more potent carrier-threat capabilities. It's rare that three carriers are together at the same time, so Pacific Command will want to maximize this opportunity.
Regardless, the simple takeaway is that this exercise is good news for both tactical and strategic reasons. It helps the U.S. military prepare to fight and it demands China's uncomfortable attention.
Whatever Trump says to Xi in Beijing, you can bet the Chinese leader won't like the U.S. military pageant on display this weekend.
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/b...will-upset-china-this-weekend/article/2640177
