CHINA a Rising SuperPower

11/02/2024

Chinese investors and their creditors are putting up “For Sale” signs on real-estate holdings across the globe as the need to raise cash amid a deepening property crisis at home trumps the risks of offloading into a falling market. The worldwide slump triggered by borrowing-cost hikes has wiped more than $1 trillion off office property values alone, Starwood Capital Group Chairman Barry Sternlicht said last week.

09/02/2024

In the January 2020 report compiled by Guosen Securities, a Chinese investment company, it was noted that following the assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, the Middle East finds itself on the brink of conflict, creating an opportunity for Chinese arms manufacturers. Additionally, the report mentioned that when sanctions on Iran end in October 2020, another opportunity will arise for Chinese arms companies.

Whether it was seizing a business opportunity or part of a deliberate policy, the Chinese arms industry has expanded and entrenched itself in the Middle East over the past decade.

Experts at the SIGNAL Institute emphasize that while this issue is troubling for Israel, it is a regional and global concern with far-reaching implications.

Dale Aluf, a researcher at the SIGNAL group, states that in August 2023, Nikkei reported that Chinese companies were flowing into record numbers due to the Turkish defense downturn. According to the article, a total of 104 Chinese companies participated in the 16th International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF) and sought business opportunities in Turkey's growing defense manufacturing and export industry, as well as approached military delegations and security procurement to expand their market.

At the same time, the Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) is in talks with China North Industries Group Corporation (Norinco) regarding the purchase of Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) aircraft, air defense systems, and more.

According to reports, Egypt is in talks with China to purchase twelve Chengdu J-10C fighter jets, while the United Arab Emirates has already acquired advanced training aircraft from China.

According to a report by General Michael E. Kurilla, the commander of CENTCOM in the U.S. military, to the Senate Armed Services Committee in March 2023, there has been an 80% increase in Chinese military equipment sales in the region over the past decade. This trend was also evidenced in the conflict in Gaza.

When reports surfaced about the discovery of Chinese-made weapons in the hands of terrorist organizations in the region, researchers at the SIGNAL Institute for Research and Policy, which examines China's relations with Israel and China's relations with the Middle East, stated that while China does not sell weapons to non-state entities, it does sell weapons to countries that could potentially transfer them to Hamas.
Carice Witte, founder and CEO of the SIGNAL Research and Policy Institute, which focuses on Israel-China relations, China's policy, and the Middle East, stated: "China has a massive military-industrial complex. By definition, it does not sell weapons to non-state actors or entities, but it does indeed sell weapons to countries in the region.
"These are actors who operate unlawfully in China, who could have transferred these weapons to Hamas. Trade relations between China and many countries in the Middle East are well-known and established, even with those subject to Western sanctions. It is not inconceivable that such weapons ultimately end up in the wrong hands."
According to Witte, "The State of Israel cannot afford a reality where Chinese weapons flow unchecked to terrorist organizations and enemy states in the region. Israel has a significant relationship with China, and it is not advisable to undermine the various interests between the two countries. Mechanisms can be established to ensure increased Chinese oversight of its arms industry and secure Israel's qualitative advantage in the region."

Aluf states that China has been selling weapons to countries in the region for years. "As early as 2013, a report by The New York Times indicated that an Iranian ship intercepted off the coast of Yemen was carrying advanced Chinese anti-aircraft missiles.
“In December 2023, Chinese military blogger Zhang Bin wrote that the Houthis had effectively 'defeated' the Chinese military by being the first to strike a ship using Chinese missile technology.
“However, there is no known evidence of direct transfer of Chinese weapons to the Houthis. According to the blogger Bin, it is possible that the Chinese source of the weaponry used against the ship by the Houthis stemmed from Chinese technology that was previously shared with Iran.”
“In December 2023, Chinese military blogger Zhang Bin wrote that the Houthis had effectively 'defeated' the Chinese military by being the first to strike a ship using Chinese missile technology.
“However, there is no known evidence of direct transfer of Chinese weapons to the Houthis. According to the blogger Bin, it is possible that the Chinese source of the weaponry used against the ship by the Houthis stemmed from Chinese technology that was previously shared with Iran.”

22/01/2024

The U.S. is derailing China’s influence in Africa.

China’s missteps along a vital rail corridor have helped create a surprise opening for the U.S., which finds itself suddenly challenging Beijing’s commercial dominance in the unlikeliest of places: Angola, a southern African country once solidly embedded in the Communist bloc and the continent’s largest recipient of Chinese infrastructure loans.

17/01/2024

Taiwan chose a new leader in the hardest-fought election in decades. But while the Democratic Progressive Party held onto the presidency, the political landscape changed dramatically.

Taiwan’s tightest election in decades dealt a blow to Xi on Saturday. The two camps that favor dialogue with Beijing failed to capitalize on fatigue with the US-friendly ruling party, leaving room for a man China deems a “separatist” to take power.
When it comes to Xi’s bigger goal of unifying with Taiwan, the weekend’s ballot exposed that his playbook of military force, banning Taiwanese fruit exports and bombarding the island with angry rhetoric isn’t bringing Taipei closer anytime soon.

Taiwan’s current vice president, Lai Ching-te, won with just 40% of the vote — the lowest winning percentage since 2000. His ruling DPP also lost its majority in the legislature. Opposition votes were split between the Kuomintang, which failed to gain enough seats to control the assembly, and the upstart Taiwan People’s Party, which holds the balance of power.

That makes the big winner of the election the status quo, which may bode well for the sensitive, three-way relationship between Taiwan, China and the US. Strong checks and balances between the executive and legislative arms of government make sharp changes in policy unlikely, potentially lowering the risk of changes that could, in turn, increase tensions between Washington and Beijing.

The president-elect’s weak mandate and the divided assembly mean he must work with the opposition on crucial decisions, including on military funding. The 64-year-old has already pledged to look at his rivals’ policies, and to appoint officials from other parties to government.

How did the US respond?
“We do not support independence,” Joe Biden told reporters Saturday, a statement in line with existing US policy and conciliatory to China. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the election shows the strength of Taiwan’s “robust democratic system” and reiterated the US is committed to “cross-Strait peace and stability.” Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, also congratulated Lai.

Despite never having ruled Taiwan, the Chinese Communist Party claims the global chip hub as its own and has vowed to bring it under its control one day, by force if necessary. That’s put huge focus on Xi’s potential military intentions toward the island of 23 million people.
Military drills, trade tariffs and harsh rhetoric were all ways Beijing was predicted to punish Taiwan for its democratic election. In the end, President Xi Jinping delivered his clearest response via a tiny Pacific Island of 13,000 people.

The government in Nauru announced today that it was severing diplomatic ties with Taiwan, a shock move after its leader had congratulated current Vice President Lai Ching-te on his victory.
Taipei is now left with only a dozen official partners including the US to advocate for its interests at global bodies such as the United Nations, where it’s been banished by Beijing.

China’s Foreign Ministry was brazen about the timing. “Of course, we release the information after the election,” said spokeswoman Mao Ning. Taipei said the announcement was “retaliation” for its democratic values.

Beijing has so far skipped major airspace incursions or economic curbs in the wake of the vote. Its ability to convince Nauru to ditch Taiwan was a reminder it has a range of tools for intimidation.

Still, Nauru’s departure is mostly symbolic. It’s a minuscule economy with close to zero diplomatic sway.

15/01/2024

Taiwanese voters have snubbed Beijing for a third time, all but ensuring tensions with China will persist.

For eight years, China has raged against Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party, accusing it of pursuing a separatist agenda that must be confronted with economic muscle and shows of military might.
Lai Ching-te’s win yesterday is likely to stoke anxiety in Beijing, while also fueling concern in Washington that China may lean toward the use of force to bring Taiwan’s democratic government to heel. A key question is whether Lai, who has spoken openly in the past about his desire for Taiwanese independence before moderating his language in recent years, will walk a steady line in dealing with Beijing—or if his election heralds an even more turbulent phase in relations.

12/01/2024

Beijing Grows Assertive as Chinese Private Military Companies ‘Come Out of the Shadows’

• Beijing now plans to use PMCs more widely for political purposes, threatening stability in Central Asia, Africa, and elsewhere.
• China’s policy shift creates problems in its relationship with Russia and intensifies the conflict with the United States over Taiwan.
• Chinese PMCs may soon generate more problems for global stability than Russia’s Wagner Group, an entity that has received vastly more attention.

03/01/2024

China pulled a Middle East coup in 2023 by announcing a Saudi-Iran normalization deal, but its preference for avoiding carrot-and-stick diplomacy limits what Beijing can offer to address Gulf’s demands for security arrangements. Beijing’s top priority is to safeguard its economic interests and keep the Gulf’s fossil fuel exports flowing.

29/12/2023

The CIA still struggles to rebuild its human espionage capabilities in China, the agency’s top intelligence target.

A decade after Beijing destroyed a network of agents, the gaps leave the U.S. with limited understanding of secret deliberations among Chinese leader Xi Jinping and his inner circle on key issues such as Taiwan, according to interviews with current and former U.S. officials. Strengthening the human spy network targeting China is one goal of a huge, but mostly secret, shift at the CIA and its sister U.S. spy agencies from hunting terrorists and fighting insurgencies and toward preparing for a possible conflict with China and Russia.

16/12/2023

Chinese spies ran a far-right Belgian politician as an intelligence asset for more than three years in a case that shows how Beijing has conducted influence operations in an effort to shape politics in its favour.

Daniel Woo, an officer in China’s Ministry of State Security spy agency, pushed Frank Creyelman, a former Belgian senator, to influence discussions in Europe on issues ranging from China’s crackdown on democracy in Hong Kong to its persecution of Uyghurs in Xinjiang.

As German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was about to visit China in late 2022, Woo asked Creyelman to convince two rightwing members of the European parliament to say publicly that the US and UK were undermining European energy security.

“Our purpose is to divide the US-European relationship,” Woo wrote in a text message to Creyelman.

The relationship between the Chinese case officer and his Belgian agent is documented in text messages from 2019 to late 2022 that were obtained from a western security source in a joint investigation by the Financial Times, Der Spiegel and Le Monde.

Creyelman did not respond to efforts to reach him by text, phone and email.

source: https://www.ft.com/content/601df41f-8393-46ad-9f74-fe64f8ea1a3f

06/12/2023

Chinese local governments’ colossal hidden-debt problem is coming to a head.

Their off-balance-sheet debt levels—around $7 trillion to $11 trillion, according to IMF and Wall Street bank estimates—have become unsustainable because the country’s slowing economic growth and deflationary pressures make it harder to stay on top of interest and principal payments. A wave of defaults could quickly escalate into a nationwide financial crisis if credit markets seize up and retail and corporate depositors start worrying about banks’ stability. Moody’s lowered its outlook for China’s credit rating from stable to negative because some city and provincial governments will need financial support from Beijing amid a cooling national economy.

06/12/2023

• Russia is being increasingly forced to supply strategic resources to partners—especially China and Iran—on highly unfavorable terms in exchange for minor displays of political support.
• China’s exploitation of Russian energy vulnerabilities highlights an ongoing trend of Beijing only supporting Moscow when it serves Chinese interests.
• Beijing’s refusal to invest in the Power of Siberia-2 natural gas pipeline demonstrates increased bargaining power in negotiations with the Kremlin on energy matters.

25/11/2023

A group of scientists associated with the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) is reportedly using taxpayer funds to import bats and conduct Ebola experiments in the United States.

The project, led by Colorado State University (CSU) virologist Greg Ebel, has raised concerns among lawmakers due to its association with the EcoHealth Alliance (EHA), which previously provided funding to the WIV for bat-based coronavirus research.

Americans will pay the bill for this reckless research center in Colorado to the tune of $6.7 million. Why? Ebola is certainly not an issue in America and we have the capacity to treat the virus. The use of taxpayer money for these experiments has drawn attention in light of previous controversies surrounding the funding of bat coronavirus research. This development has reignited discussions about the potential risks and ethical considerations associated with such research initiatives.

The plan to ship countless bats from around the world to the US and infect them with an array of contagious diseases. The GOP is demanding that the NIH end all federal funding to EcoHealth. Scientist Greg Ebel insists the lab is not intended for malicious purposes. “This isn’t a bat COVID lab. It’s not a bioweapons lab. We’re not working with Ebola or Nipah virus or any of these things. I’m not interested in losing my job or going to jail or interested in doing research that’s going to carry home pathogens to my wife or my child. Those kinds of things are beyond ridiculous,” he told reporters.
So we just experienced a pandemic caused by an “accidental lab leak” from China, and now they want to open a lab here with US tax dollars. This is an absolute attack on America from within. Take these experiments to an isolated corner of the world and use Big Pharma dollars to fund the studies as they are the ones who will profit.
https://zurl.co/zJW8

25/11/2023

Chinese leader Xi Jinping is seizing on the conflict in Gaza to portray his country as a force for stability in the Muslim world, in contrast with what Beijing casts as American meddling in the Middle East.
In recent weeks, China has ramped up its appeals to halt the Israel-Gaza war, a show of diplomatic bustle laden with humanitarian platitudes but light on substantive proposals for achieving a cease-fire.

19/11/2023

Greek-Chinese cooperation in shipping infrastructure is constantly gathering pace, with more and more Greek-owned ships being built in China and Piraeus port growing into a European leader of container handling.

George Xiradakis, president of Hellenic Shipping Finance Association, said that many Greek shipowners build their ships in China, and during the last decade, half of the Greek new ships were built in that country.

Piraeus Port Authority owner, China’s COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited, is one of the largest shipping enterprises in the world and owns over 1,300 ships with a combined shipping capacity of 111 million deadweight tons, ranking first in the world.
The company’s global shipping routes cover more than 1,500 ports in 160 countries and regions, with an annual cargo volume of 1.3 billion tons.
“We have made the port of Piraeus a leading container port in Europe. With joint efforts of the COSCO Shipping management team, the company has made a significant contribution to the local economy, culture, society and finance of Greece,” said Yu Zenggang, executive chairman of COSCO Shipping (Piraeus) Ports Ltd.

source: ekathimerini.com

18/11/2023

14/11/2023

Pacific Fleet, Special Operations command, and U.S. Marine Corps assets are involved in the exercise, dubbed JPMRC 24-01 and held from Oct. 20 to Nov. 10.

5,000 U.S, Indonesian, Thai, British, and New Zealander troops spread out on islands from Hawaii to Palau in the western Pacific for an enormous training exercise that simulates “large-scale conflict against a peer adversary in jungle and archipelagic conditions” at the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center.

The Nimitz-class aircraft carriers USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) transit the Philippine Sea.
Carl Vinson and Ronald Reagan are participating in the bilateral Multi-Large Deck Event (MLDE), which features the ships and aircraft of Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Es**rt Flotilla 3, as well as the U.S. Navy's Carrier Strike Group 1 and Carrier Strike Group 5. MLDE is a multi-domain event that grows the already strong partnership and interoperability that exists between the JMSDF and U.S. Navy today. nd

10/11/2023

According to various reports, for the first time in its history, China is planning to establish a permanent military base in the Middle East.

Washington DC is virtually bound to see this “as a significant challenge”, particularly as the planned permanent base is to be in the highly strategic (and volatile) Persian Gulf region. The US itself also has a major military presence, such as the Navy Central Command military infrastructure in Qatar and Bahrain.
On November 7, citing “people familiar with the matter”, Bloomberg reported that “President Joe Biden has been briefed on what his advisers see as a Chinese plan to build a military facility in Oman”.
“This comes amid a broader effort by Beijing to deepen defense and diplomatic ties with the Middle East,” the report continues, further adding: “Biden was told that Chinese military officials discussed the matter last month with Omani counterparts, who were said to be amenable to such a deal, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations. They said the two sides agreed to more talks in the coming weeks.”

The exact location of the future Chinese military infrastructure in Oman is still unknown. Back in August, Beijing and Muscat celebrated the 45th anniversary of the establishment of their formal diplomatic relations. In recent decades, the two countries have significantly improved their economic and military relationship, including joint exercises and other activities related to security and national interests. In addition, the port of Muscat is known for regularly hosting the ships of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).
Back in mid-October, the Royal Navy of Oman (RNO) and PLAN held joint naval drills and also promised “to expand their naval defense and military cooperation”. It should also be noted that China maintains very close relations with other countries in the region, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which could also be a possible candidate for future Chinese military presence.

At present, the only significant military base that Beijing operates anywhere near the region is its military base in Djibouti, a small country in East Africa. It should be noted that China is prone to establishing a military presence only in areas that its leadership thinks are important for the security of its massive infrastructure projects such as the unprecedented One Belt One Road. This Chinese-led multinational effort spans almost the entirety of Asia and large parts of Europe. It includes both land and naval facilities and infrastructure with a particular focus on trade and transportation. An important part of the project also includes Beijing’s plans to deepen ties with various major energy producers, a mutually beneficial effort that will further stabilize the otherwise volatile region. Bloomberg also suggested this is a major reason behind strengthened military ties between China and Oman.

And while the US doesn’t have a direct and permanent military presence in Oman (besides naval visits to its ports), it does have an official agreement with Muscat to use the country’s military bases whenever it needs them for operations in the region. This includes the Thumrait airbase of the RAFO (Royal Air Force of Oman), located near the homonymous city in the south of the country. The airbase is often used by the USAF. In addition, the US Navy also has a strong presence in waters off the coast of Oman.

In the last several years, the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) began warning that China is supposedly “not content with its Djibouti base on the continent’s east coast, but is looking to establish a military presence on the Atlantic”. Washington DC sees this as a major threat to its much-touted “rules-based world order”.

It’s highly unlikely that the US will be able to force China’s partners in any of the areas where these projects are being conducted to stop them, let alone break growing ties with Beijing. For these countries, the choice is rather simple – it’s crucial to maintain close ties with the world’s most powerful production economy and a country that actually makes long-term investments in socioeconomic development.

10/11/2023

Hardliners in Washington are demanding that the Biden administration tighten sanctions on Iran as punishment for its support of Hamas. Tehran, they argue, has been exporting more oil over recent months than it has in years. The vast majority of its barrels — well over 90% — are heading to China.

10/11/2023

This week’s high-level U.S.-China meeting comes as the two countries’ shifting economic fortunes are altering their relationship.

Buoyant U.S. growth and the struggling Chinese economy will likely shape the talks between Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in San Francisco. Beijing is concerned that high U.S. interest rates hurt its currency, while Washington worries China’s slowdown could prompt a rush of cheap exports that hurt businesses stateside.

President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to meet next week in ’Frisco, the site of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. The presidential summit will be a culmination of months of diplomacy to steady volatile relations between the superpowers.

08/11/2023

26/10/2023

China said the United States is the “biggest disruptor of regional peace and stability” in the world in a scathing response Wednesday to a Pentagon report on China’s growing military buildup.

The annual report that is required by Congress is one way the Pentagon measures the military capabilities of China, which the U.S. government sees as its key threat in the Asia-Pacific region and America’s primary long-term security challenge.

The statement China’s Ministry of Defense issued in response called the Pentagon report’s findings false and used it in turn to hit back at the U.S.’ recent actions in helping Israel and Ukraine, as well as its buildup of military installations worldwide.
“The U.S. has sent depleted uranium munitions and cluster bombs to Ukraine, sent its carrier battle groups to the Mediterranean and weapons and munitions to Israel, is this the so-called ‘gospel’ the ‘human rights defender is bringing to the area?” said Wu Qian, the spokesperson for China’s defense ministry.

The Pentagon report builds on a warning last year that China was expanding its nuclear force rapidly, in line with a general buildup of its military. The earlier warning said Beijing was on track to nearly quadruple the number of warheads it has to 1,500 by 2035.

25/10/2023

While Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is expected to travel this week to Washington for summit-preparation meetings with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, concerning Xi Jinping’s first U.S. trip in six-and-a-half years accepting President Biden’s invitation, the intelligence chiefs from five allied nations, including the U.S., insist China is stealing technology secrets from the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and their allies. The intel leaders from the so-called “Five Eyes” went on CBS News’ “60 Minutes” Sunday evening to make their case to the public.

22/10/2023

EAST CHINA SEA (Oct. 17, 2023) An F/A-18E Super Hornet attached to the Royal Maces of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 27 takes off from the flight deck of the U.S. Navy's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), in the East China Sea, Oct. 17, 2023. The Royal Maces conduct carrier-based air strikes and strike force es**rt missions, as well as ship, battle group and intelligence collection operations. Ronald Reagan, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 5, provides a combat-ready force that protects and defends the United States, and supports alliances, partnerships and collective maritime interests in the Indo-Pacific region.

21/10/2023

Beijing has not removed its foot from the accelerator of military modernization as it continues ramping up its nuclear warhead inventory, according to the U.S. military's latest congressionally-mandated annual report on its Chinese counterparts.
One notable difference from last year's report: The Pentagon believes China will probably have more than 1,000 warheads by 2030. In previous years, the Pentagon estimated the number likely wouldn't exceed 1,000.

In keeping with past assessments, the Pentagon still expects that China will possess more than 1,000 operational warheads by the end of the decade and 1,500 by 2035. But a senior defense official, speaking to reporters on background, acknowledged that the growth thus far has been faster than expected.

China may also be focusing on building a conventionally-armed ICBM to threaten strikes against the U.S., the Pentagon says. But details on such a program are not yet forthcoming.

12/10/2023

President Vladimir Putin is to attend China’s third Belt and Road Forum on Oct. 17-18. It would be the Russian leader’s first foreign trip outside the former Soviet states since a warrant for his arrest on alleged war crimes committed in Ukraine was issued by the International Criminal Court.

21/09/2023

Military units from all 10 ASEAN nations began their first-ever joint exercise in Indonesia on Tuesday. "This is not a combat operation because ASEAN is more focused on economics. The training is more about social activities," Yudo Margono, Indonesia's military chief, told reporters after the opening ceremony on the Indonesian island of Batam on Tuesday.
China's new claim. ASEAN moved the exercise from its planned location in the South China Sea after China issued new, broader claims on international and disputed waters. On Aug. 28, the Chinese Ministry of Natural Resources released the 2023 version of the country's "standard map." In place of the familiar 9-dash line demarking China's territorial claims—some of which have been rejected by international courts—a new 11-dash line encloses a wider swath of territory, including all of Taiwan and areas claimed by the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, and India, all of which have objected to the new map.

15/09/2023

Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall on Monday warned that China was building up its military to prepare for a potential war with the U.S., and he said America must optimize its forces to counter the rising threat.

Speaking at the Air and Space Forces Association Warfighter Symposium at National Harbor, Md., Kendall said the U.S. must be ready for a “kind of war we have no modern experience with,” though he stressed “war is not inevitable.”
“Our job is to deter that war and to be ready to win if it occurs,” Kendall said. “We’re all talking about the fact that the Air and Space Forces must change, or we could fail to prevent and might even lose a war.”

Kendall said it was vital to prepare for war because China is developing its forces at a rapid pace and has created two new military branches: a force designed to counter aircraft carriers, airfields and other critical assets, and a strategic support service that works to achieve information dominance in the space and cyber domains.

The Air Force secretary said, “China has been reoptimizing its forces for great power competition and to prevail against the U.S. in the Western Pacific for over 20 years.”
“China has been building a military capability specifically designed to achieve their national goals and to do so if opposed by the United States,” he added.

U.S.-China relations have reached a low point amid rising tensions over the self-governing island nation of Taiwan, which Beijing sees as historically part of the mainland.

The U.S. has warned that Chinese President Xi Jinping may seize the island by force if necessary, and President Biden has repeatedly said the U.S. would send troops to help defend the island in such a scenario. Washington maintains informal ties with Taiwan and has provided advanced weaponry to the nation.

Kendall joins other Pentagon and U.S. military officials in warning of a potential war with China, possibly in this decade.
“The Air Force and Space Force are incredibly capable, but we need to reoptimize the department for greater power projection and for great power competition,” he said in his remarks.
“The war we need to be most ready for, if we want to optimize our readiness to deter or respond to the pacing challenge, is not the type of conflict we have been focused on for many years,” he added.
“If our power projection capability and capacity are not adequate to deter Chinese aggression against Taiwan or elsewhere, war could occur. If it does, and we cannot prevail, the results could cast a long shadow.”