A test of US resolve may be in the offing. Sun-Tzu and Mao-Tse Tung used the correlation of forces as a war strategy and it may be in the PRC’s favor with The US postponing the resupply of a carrier group. If they see us back off, the defense treaty with Japan and the ROC is toast, and so is East Asia.
China would like to settle an old score from the war in the 30’s and 40’s. Obama and his two-fisted (/sarc) secy of state Kerry (who served in Vietnam) would offer no resistance.