May 27, 2021

US Navy deployment could leave an aircraft carrier-sized gap in Asia's tense waters

Featuring: Tom Shugart

Source: CNN

Journalist: Brad Lendon

United States Navy commanders face a potential shortfall in their Asia sea power in the coming weeks as tensions simmer with China in the region's waters.

According to two unnamed US officials, the Japan-based aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan is expected to head to the Middle East in the next few days to support US troops' withdrawal from Afghanistan.But analysts say the move could leave a gap in US carrier coverage in East Asia at a time when Beijing is turning up the heat over the South China Sea and Taiwan.

Read the full story and more from CNN.

Author

  • Tom Shugart

    Adjunct Senior Fellow, Defense Program

    Thomas Shugart is an Adjunct Senior Fellow with the Defense Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). His research focuses on undersea warfare and maritime com...