Barring political surrender, the Chinese navy (the PLAN) would not fair well in blue water operations against the USN.
That is not to say that a cake walk is a given.
The Chinese could very well deliver some serious blows, especially with a surprise attack, but everything after that would go down hill for them. First, they would have no choice but to come out and fight. Their supply of oil and their exports would suddenly become USN property, and only defeating the USN in blue water operations would get them their stuff back.
USN attack submarines would be waiting, as would USN task forces made up of multiple carrier strike groups. Their satellites would be blinded, and many of ours might be lost, but we would still have long range recon, they would not.
You can’t win blue water Naval engagements against aircraft carriers except with nuclear submarines and/or other aircraft carriers. They don’t yet have nearly what it takes in those departments. If the Chinese mainland makes operating our carriers too dangerous, then we step back and make them come to us to get their trade routes back, advantage USN.
USAF long range support would also appear at the second island ring, perhaps even the Taiwan, if a war had started and the Chinese hadn’t seized it yet.
Well-stated; spent 10 years on a CVN, two CGs and a DDG. So-called ‘experts’ have next to zero knowledge of just how formidable these platforms are unless they’ve been there for more than an overnight visit.
Oh?
I'm afraid that the Chinese DO know how to lop the head off of the dragon!
Sun Tzu is one of THEIR historical figures: not OURS!