A MAJOR U.S. SHOW OF FORCE in the Pacific. The Gweilo Diaries thinks that the Chinese will be unhappy, but not unimpressed.

UPDATE: The Straits Times story linked above seems to have misunderstood — it’s 7 carrier groups, but in 5 different theaters, not all off the coast of China. Reader Owen Tredennick wonders if this is a mistake, or Chinese propaganda spin:

Sina.com may be setting up a “US bullying with 7 carriers, China responds, US backs down, sends one or two” story line.

Or they may just have blown it. Another reader suggests that we’ll be applying a double-squeeze to North Korea and Iran. Beats me. Stay tuned.