The United States’ allies in Asia are becoming increasingly concerned about Washington’s decision to move some military resources from the Asia-Pacific region to the Middle East as the US-Israel war with Iran enters its sixth month.
The latest development was the relocation of the USS George Washington, the last US aircraft carrier stationed in Asia, from Japan to the Middle East. It is being sent to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has spent about nine months deployed in the region.
The move has raised concerns that the reduction of US military assets could weaken America’s ability to deter China. Analysts say the redeployment, combined with earlier transfers of US missile-defence equipment and reductions in missile and ammunition stockpiles, could affect Washington’s military influence in Asia.
William Yang, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, said the developments were having an impact on the effectiveness of US-led regional deterrence against China.
Meanwhile, China has continued expanding its naval and coastguard activities beyond the First Island Chain, which stretches from northern Japan through Taiwan and the northern Philippines to Borneo.
Chinese coastguard operations have also increased in waters east of Taiwan, including areas overlapping with the exclusive economic zones of Japan and the Philippines. Analysts believe the operations could be intended to test the responses of Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines and the United States.
Security experts say Asian allies may worry that China could become more confident in challenging them while US military resources are concentrated on the Iran war.
However, analysts stressed that the majority of US military forces remain in the Asia-Pacific. The region hosts around 375,000 US military and civilian personnel, with tens of thousands stationed in Japan and South Korea.
The redeployment is also being viewed as part of President Donald Trump’s broader strategy of encouraging US allies to take greater responsibility for their own defence.
Under the US 2026 National Defense Strategy, allies are expected to increase military and security-related spending. Several countries have already begun doing so. Taiwan has announced plans to increase defence spending by 18 percent in 2027, while the Philippines has called for defence spending to reach 4 percent of GDP.
Experts in Taiwan and Japan believe US military interest in Asia will eventually return, arguing that the movement of the aircraft carrier does not necessarily indicate a long-term US withdrawal from the region.
Kei Koga of Nanyang Technological University said the deployment to the Middle East was concerning in the short term but did not constitute evidence of a long-term US strategic disengagement from Asia.
Other analysts noted that important US military capabilities, including Amphibious Ready Groups capable of operating F-35B fighter jets, remain in the region.
Despite the ongoing Iran war, analysts believe China will remain a major priority for Trump because of its strategic and economic importance to the United States.
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