* China remains determined to claim sovereignty over international waters in the western Pacific
* Strategic importance of the U.S. alliance with Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines
* Large-deck aircraft carrier an important interment in projecting American seapower
* U.S. Navy not prepared to counter Russian maritime buildup in the eastern Mediterranean
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Caption
A view of Mile Handmade Wool Carpet Factory on May 28, 2024, in the Uyghur Autonomous Regio, China. (Photo by Zhe Ji/Getty Images)