What we have here is the same as what we had with the Soviet Union during the cold war.
China is building a large sea denial force, therefore it does not need long range or long endurance it will typically operate up to and around its regional area of influence.
The West will have to cross oceans and sustain the operations for extended periods should conflict arise, to give you figures in 1982 when the UK went against Argentina the Royal navy had 42 ships in the main offensive task group, it was backed up by 22 Royal fleet auxiliary vessels and 62 other merchant vessels taken up from trade.
At the end of the war all the vessels were exhausted and almost dry, any conflict with China and that number will be exceeded very quickly.
The good thing about the USN and West is the alliance we have a lot of jumping off points china does not, we also have multiple allied vessels to incorporate into a task group for various roles.
China has to cater to counter for all of this and China is doing so.
To say that China isn't a threat or their equipment is trash is a total misjudgment of the entire situation and Chinese capabilities, they can do some serious damage and we know it.
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