The Carrier Conundrum: US Retreats from Asia, Leaving China to Fill the Gap The sudden departure of the USS George Washington from the western Pacific has sent ripples throughout the region, leaving American allies in a state of unease.
Beijing, however, appears to be rubbing its hands with glee.
President Donald Trump's war against Iran is straining the nation's aircraft carriers, forcing the US military to make difficult choices about where to focus its resources.