Posted on 03/11/2021 8:02:04 AM PST by SeekAndFind
SOUNDING THE ALARM ON CHINA: As Adm. Philip Davidson wraps up his time as head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific command, he has a singular focus on what he sees as “the greatest danger the United States and our allies face in the region,” namely the erosion of U.S. military power in the Pacific, and the threat of an undeterred China bent on remaking the region in its favor.
“I think our concerns are manifest here during this decade,” Davidson told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee yesterday. “I'm worried that they're accelerating their ambitions to supplant the United States and our leadership role in the rules-based international order, which they've long said that they want to do by 2050. I'm worried about them moving that target closer.”
Davidson again warned as he has in recent weeks, that China could be emboldened to move to retake Taiwan by force before the decade is out. “Taiwan is clearly one of their ambitions before that, and I think the threat is manifest during this decade, in fact in the next six years.”
THE ORDER OF BATTLE: Davidson briefed the senators in classified sessions before his public testimony, and he brought with him a number of charts showing China’s growing military advantage over U.S. forces in the region.
“Our conventional deterrent is actually eroding in the region. And it's because of the vast advances … that the Chinese have undertaken in both terms of capacity over the last 20 years and then in the next few years, the improvements they'll make in their capabilities as well,” Davidson testified.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonexaminer.com ...
China has been on a shipbuilding spree that, by 2025, would challenge U.S. supremacy on the high seas. By then, China will have three carriers to the one the U.S. keeps in the region; six amphibious assault ships to America’s two; and 54 modern multi-warfare combatant ships to six for the U.S.
Would China really try to seize Taiwan? They’ve become more aggressive toward the island nation in recent years and their “one China” rhetoric has been less than subtle.
But even with a preponderance of military assets in the region, you have to doubt whether Xi really wants war with the United States. This is especially true if he can take his prize with little or no cost. That would take an American president who acquiesces to Chinese dominance in the region. Is Joe Biden that president?
Davidson argues that the $27.3 billion in additional investments for deterrence is less than 1% of the overall defense budget and could restore conventional deterrence and prevent Chinese designs on its neighbors.
“Our deterrence posture in the Indo-Pacific must demonstrate the capability, the capacity, and the will to convince Beijing unequivocally the costs of achieving their objectives by the use of military force are simply too high,” he said.
At a time when the U.S. is trying to recover from the pandemic, and with government deficits and debt skyrocketing, what are the prospects of maintaining a strong military presence in that part of the world? The next two or three presidents are going to have some hard choices to make about China and our military. To be dominant over China or dominated by China? That will be the choice facing Biden and his immediate successors.
it is so odd... it wasn’t that long ago that China was our greatest ally in the region.
What the hell has happened?
Well, the last world economic collapse ended in world war. Why should this one be any different?
Not to worry, Biden will take a page out of history (Chamberlain) and toss them Taiwan (Czechoslovakia) and buy us “peace in our time”....
“Well, the last world economic collapse ended in world war. Why should this one be any different?”
With the clowns running this country, we will never challenge China. We are in effect, a vassal state.
This is all about feeding the military/industrial complex.
I agree.
The PRC is set exceed us in regional naval power. It is developing (or stealing) advanced technology that will make it difficult or impossible for the USN to operate close to their shores.
We need to avoid a war with the PRC and redirect their efforts somewhere like Africa and hope they overextend.
RE: it is so odd... it wasn’t that long ago that China was our greatest ally in the region. What the hell has happened?
How long ago were you thinking?
China turned Communist, after Japan’s defeat, the Communists took over China, the American allies in China fled to Taiwan and the rest is history.
They got what they wanted from us (money, technology) and don’t need us anymore.
We will do nothing.
Maybe we will be “too busy” in the Middle East. Maybe we will just take a complete pass on everything.
Maybe Russia, India, Japan, and Australia will join to stop China’s power grab in Asia. There are signs of them have a joint interest in this. Also, the UK could potentially provide assistance, especially to India and Australia.
Or maybe China will be allowed to do anything with no opposition from anyone. The only thing I’m really sure about is that the US military will not be involved.
Exactly the sentiment I wanted to express and reality I wanted to make clear: Biden is our own Maurice Laval and Vidkun Quisling, all rolled into one pathetic senile empty suit. The CCP waits in the wings to pounce, as Biden sleeps.
They are growing and so are we.
The DoD wasted four Trump years by failing to strengthen naval forces. Weapons systems went unimproved, ships went unbuilt, leadership was placed in the hands of incompetent diversity promotions with ships running into each other as a result. And now with a 1.9 trillion cash cow being harvested, not a penny for defense. If anyone still doubt we are being led by fools and criminals, this should still those doubts.
“it is so odd... it wasn’t that long ago that China was our greatest ally in the region.”
China has NEVER been our ally.
Nationalist China was, but not Mao’s group of commie miscreants.
OOOOOPS, Pierre Laval was the installed Nazi sympathizer that ruled Vichy France, not Maurice Laval, pardon me... whomever he is.
Trump was right..... “we” funded this.
If Russia is the enemy who justifies the existence of NATO the Euros are funding them too.
I was thinking of the 80’s and the movie red dawn :)
China is coming.
We must protect ourselves from....communism...I think?
China passed the U.S. economically back during the Obama regime. Their GDP is now higher than ours when adjusted for buying power.
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