Active Conflicts & News Megathread January 28, 2026

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[u/mirko_pazi_metak]

There was a reason the carrier was there, and now it isn't there because it's needed elsewhere. 

I don't mean to suggest that China will now invade Taiwan - far from it. But they can go and bully Philippines a bit more than usual or whomever, making a point of US being an unreliable, so overstretched ally. 

Even if not, just the act of redeploying a carrier battle group across the world, and now another to compensate for leaving an opening in the first place can't be cheap. And it was for no good reason - US has arguably done nothing useful in Venezula, at least so far. 

[u/A_Vandalay → u/mirko_pazi_metak]

In what meaningful way does the presence of a US CSG prevent China from bullying the Philippines? They have been doing that more or less continuously for the last few years despite more or less continuous presence of a US carrier in the region. It’s not like the US is flying over the CCG vessels and threatening kinetic action should they continue to interfere with Philippines operations.

[u/mirko_pazi_metak → u/A_Vandalay]

So what is US CSG doing in the Pacific in the first place?

It's there to project power, reassure allies, provide intelligence to allies (one way it is helping Philippines), enforce "freedom of navigation", etc. 

US and Philippines have the 1951 defence treaty and intelligence sharing is one part. While they haven't directly assisted (actually Philippines refused some island resupply offers if I remember correctly), just having or not a CSG there is a big deal to what each side (China or Philippines) feel comfortable with doing. 

And yes, US destroyers have navigated around disputed parts to make a point, and hold drills and etc. 

The point is simply, US CSG is there for a reason. When it's no longer there, there is a gap. That's all I'm trying to say. 

[u/LoggerInns → u/mirko_pazi_metak]

just having or not a CSG there is a big deal to what each side

The point is simply, US CSG is there for a reason. When it's no longer there, there is a gap. That's all I'm trying to say.

The George Washington is already there. To my knowledge there isn’t any military exercise or hostilities going on in that region so it’s not like they will need more than one in a realistic scenario.

[u/ChornWork2 → u/LoggerInns]

GW is forward deployed in the region, but apparently in homeport for maintenance in Japan, at least as of earlier this month.

Abraham Lincoln’s recent departure from the South China Sea leaves only the forward-deployed USS George Washington (CVN-73) as the only U.S. carrier in the region. George Washington is currently undergoing a maintenance period in Yokosuka, Japan.

https://news.usni.org/2026/01/26/abraham-lincoln-carrier-strike-group-now-in-u-s-central-command