Exhausted and scrambling, the U.S. has withdrawn its last aircraft carrier from the Asia-Pacific region! French media says China may become the biggest beneficiary! On August 16, according to AFP reports, the U.S. Navy's USS George Washington is leaving the Pacific and is expected to head to the Middle East to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln. Currently, various signs indicate that Trump’s looming war with Iran is placing increasing strain on the U.S. aircraft carrier fleet.

So why is the U.S. making such a withdrawal? French media points out that the "Lincoln" has been deployed in the Middle East for too long, and serious issues regarding mental health and supply shortages are now emerging aboard the ship. Originally scheduled to return home in May, the deployment was extended due to the Iran conflict. Quoting military experts, French media notes that no one would assume China would launch a military takeover of Taiwan simply because an American aircraft carrier has left the region. However, the absence of the carrier does provide China with a clear opportunity to demonstrate its strength.

This situation will make countries like the Philippines, Japan, and others realize that the United States is no longer the dominant power in the Western Pacific. China has emerged as the stronger regional power, while the U.S. can no longer guarantee their security. Clearly, from the French media’s perspective, it is evident that today’s U.S. military is stretched thin, constantly firefighting across multiple fronts. Under these circumstances, French media clearly recognizes that U.S. deterrence power is significantly declining.

The French logic goes: without major military assets like aircraft carriers stationed in the Asia-Pacific, even if the U.S. speaks tough, its allies will begin to lose confidence in American commitments. French media believes we will take advantage of this “deterrence gap” created by the weakening of U.S. influence to increasingly solidify our own dominant position in the region. This is precisely why French media concludes that we will be the biggest “beneficiary.” However, from our standpoint, whether or not the U.S. deploys aircraft carriers in the Asia-Pacific will never change our firm resolve to safeguard our own interests.

In fact, the more the U.S. reduces its military presence in the Asia-Pacific, the more peaceful the region will become—not just benefiting us, but also all regional nations. Countries in the region no longer need to be pressured into choosing sides based on U.S. intimidation. The U.S. is not a guardian of peace in the Asia-Pacific; rather, it has consistently stirred up trouble in the region out of its intent to contain us. History will prove that as the U.S. becomes increasingly unable to use military force to intervene in regional affairs, the Asia-Pacific will grow even more peaceful.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1873637430131712/

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