US down to 1 Pacific aircraft carrier for last 22 weeks

Cut from 2 ships shows challenge of keeping global balance even as China expands fleet

The U.S. keeps one aircraft carrier stationed at the Yokosuka naval base in Japan. (Photo by Tomoki Mera)

TOKYO -- The U.S. military has had only one aircraft carrier deployed in the Pacific region instead of its customary two since January, before the war in Iran, raising concerns about the balance of naval power with China as its own fleet grows.