What You Need to Know: With rising concerns over a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, U.S. military planners are reevaluating the role of aircraft carriers, traditionally key to power projection. Rapid Chinese advancements in anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) technology mean carriers now face significant vulnerabilities in the Taiwan Strait.

-Emerging strategies propose withdrawing carriers to the second island chain while relying on autonomous drones or dispersed, mobile forces to blunt a Chinese assault and buy time.

-Carriers could serve as strategic reserves, forcing China to divert resources toward defense. This approach seeks a balance between utilizing carriers’ capabilities without risking their significant investment and symbolic value.

As the world progresses deeper into a decade of concern, military planners continue to contend with the potential of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has made no secret of his ambitions toward the island nation. Should a military clash begin in the region, U.S. military leadership right now would be faced with several tough choices on how to respond. One of the key decisions would be how to use the U.S. Navy’s carriers. Once invulnerable floating fortresses, rapid Chinese advances in anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) capabilities leave these vessels facing new and serious risks. As thinking evolves, several theories on potential uses for carriers have begun to emerge.

Naval strategy in the Pacific........

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