The year is 2027, the war in Ukraine is somehow still happening, but US public support for Ukraine has turned to ambivalence. US Military Industrial Complex goes and manufactures some consent for a war with China because their shareholders can't afford to buy a 4th mega yacht.
The US begins operations by attempting to blockade the Strait of Malacca.
Day 2 of the US navy trying to blockade, the Saudis will do 9/11 2: Electric Boogaloo for cutting into their oil sales to China, South Korea and Japan (their 3 biggest customers).
On day 3, completely unrelated to the second 9/11 on the previous day, a US submarine will accidentally try and emerge directly below a US warship, causing $7 billion of damage and leaving both vessels out of action for 5 years.
On day 4, the US does a friendly fire when the USS Brigham Young mistakes Australian HMS George Pell for a Chinese vessel.