The Russians and XiComs are very interested in demonstrating a post American-dominated world. The Russian/China/Iran alliance provides three strings to pull. Get Iran to pull a couple of carriers in, then launch towards Taiwan. They gotta do it now before Taiwan takes delivery on the 400 Harpoons and the new submarines and ships...and aircraft. BTW, if the US gets involved...they can reach the gulf with the DF-26. We could go 4 carriers down pretty darn fast.
I always kinda figured that if a carrier gets sunk, the odds of at least a tactical nuclear retaliation goes to around 15% or so. Probably not with just 1. 2, 3, 4? Looking at some serious possibility I think. Even with biden.
Just to throw a wildcard into the works... India and Pakistan start throwing nukes around...