Kevin P O'Murray comments

China has one (1) 1980's Soviet era built ship that they are converting into what 'they' call an aircraft carrier. The SHI LANG has not even been commissioned as of June 2012. Interestingly, the Chinese 'aircraft carrier' doesn't contain a single catapult with which to launch most non vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. In addition to having 11 active Aircraft Carrier Battle Groups with another two more on order, one already under construction, the US fleet also contains 20 amphibious assault ships which all resemble aircraft carriers in design. Their flight deck is used to operate helicopters, VTOL aircraft, drones and others types of aircraft depending on the ship's size. That actually gives the US 31 aircraft carriers compared to the number two Russian navy with 1, in fact China and Russia combined will have 2 compared to America's 31. Just one verifiable fact on just one piece of American military power that helps explains why China nor Russia, individually or combined, can seriously or credibly oppose America's presence anywhere. Like Frodo's ring the ring of the greatest military power the world has ever known has begun to circle the finger and throat of China from Alaska down to the Philippines to Australia up to India and over to Thailand and many other places in between. There's probably a reason why the United States spends more money on its military than the rest of the entire world combined does and has done so for decades. It should be no surprise to anyone that at some points in time they're going to use it. In addition to its vast military power the US possesses all the information known to man as to how and why other great empires of the past has failed. The US has the answers to the test so those who speak of the fall of the American Empire are either ignorant of the facts or just simply wishful thinkers who choose not to concern themselves with the facts.