A carrier strike group's deterrence value can be quantified with a Markov-game model: in the South China Sea case study (U.S. as global power, China as regional power), the two players deploy limited forces and compete for alliances among the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia — deterrence emerges from the alliance competition inside the DIME (diplomatic, information, military, economic) construct, not from hull counts alone.

— In our words · Source: Assessing the deterrence value of carrier presence against adversary aggression in a coalition environment (Roger L. Huffstetler)