How the United States Lost the Naval War of 2015

http://www.au.af.mil/au/aunews/archive/2010/0501/Articles/kraska0501.pdf

Years of strategic missteps in oceans policy, naval strategy and a force
structure in decline set the stage for U.S. defeat at sea in 2015. After decades
of double-digit budget increases, the People's Liberation Army (Navy) was
operating some of the most impressive systems in the world, including a
medium-range ballistic missile that could hit a moving aircraft carrier and
a super-quiet diesel electric submarine that was stealthier than U.S. nuclear
submarines. Coupling this new asymmetric naval force to visionary maritime
strategy and oceans policy, China ensured that all elements of national power
promoted its goal of dominating the East China Sea. The United States, in
contrast, had a declining naval force structured around 10 aircraft carriers
spread thinly throughout the globe. With a maritime strategy focused on lowerorder
partnerships,and anational oceans policy thatdevaluedstrategic interests
in freedom of navigation, the stage was set for defeat at sea. This article recounts
howChina destroyed the USS George Washington in the East China Sea in 2015.
The political fallout from the disaster ended 75 years of U.S. dominance in the
Pacific Ocean and cemented China's position as the Asian hegemon.