China’s Military Expansion and America’s Defense Deficiency

[Social Media]

 

As geopolitical tensions rise, there is growing concern that the United States may be unprepared to face a significant military challenge from China. Although much of the discourse in Washington has focused on China’s economic struggles—such as high youth unemployment, an aging population, and slow economic growth—these issues have not hindered Beijing’s ability to ramp up its defense capabilities. While some believe that China’s military might is exaggerated, the reality tells a different story. China's defense industrial base is rapidly expanding, and the country has taken a wartime stance in its production of weapons and military technology.

 

Despite its economic challenges, China has been making remarkable progress in the development and production of sophisticated military hardware. Over the past few years, China has outpaced the U.S. in several critical areas, including shipbuilding and missile production. It has become the world’s largest shipbuilder, with production capacity 230 times larger than that of the United States. Between 2021 and early 2024, China’s defense industry produced over 400 modern fighter aircraft, more than 20 warships, and doubled its missile and nuclear warhead inventories. The pace at which China is acquiring weapons systems is five to six times faster than the United States. Admiral John Aquilino, former commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, has described China’s military buildup as “the most extensive and rapid since World War II.”

 

 

At the heart of China’s defense strategy is President Xi Jinping’s vision of creating a world-class military to fulfill his goal of the "great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation." State-owned enterprises have been key players in building China’s military capacity, with companies like Aviation Industry Corporation of China and China State Shipbuilding now ranking among the largest defense companies in the world. In just over a decade, Chinese firms have gone from being absent in global defense rankings to becoming top competitors of U.S. defense giants like Lockheed Martin and Boeing.

 

One of the most striking examples of China's military advancements is its naval power. The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is now the largest in the world, supported by China’s vast shipbuilding infrastructure. China’s shipyards can produce warships, submarines, and other military vessels at a scale that far surpasses U.S. capacity. While the U.S. Navy still maintains an edge in some areas—such as firepower and advanced nuclear-powered submarines—China’s ability to produce ships rapidly gives it a potential advantage in a prolonged conflict.

 

In addition to naval advancements, China has been modernizing its air force and missile capabilities. Its Aviation Industry Corporation has doubled its production of fourth- and fifth-generation fighter jets in recent years and continues to improve the country’s drone technology and missile systems. China is also making strides in space technology, increasing its number of satellite launches and developing systems that can track and disrupt enemy assets in space.

 

While China continues its military expansion, the United States finds itself facing significant challenges in maintaining its defense superiority. The U.S. defense industrial base has atrophied over the years, lacking the flexibility and capacity needed to match China’s rapid growth. The current U.S. defense production system is better suited for peacetime operations, and crucial bottlenecks in munitions and equipment could leave the U.S. at a disadvantage in a protracted conflict, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.

 

Despite these challenges, the United States has yet to take the necessary steps to overhaul its defense industry. To counter China’s growing threat, Washington needs to address labor shortages in critical sectors like shipbuilding, streamline its contracting and acquisition processes, and invest in new technologies. A presidential-led initiative, akin to Franklin Roosevelt’s World War II “arsenal of democracy” effort, may be required to revitalize America’s defense industry.

 

China’s defense buildup is a warning sign. To ensure its readiness for potential future conflicts, the United States must act quickly to rebuild its military capabilities and safeguard its position on the global stage.

 

Based on a report from Foreign Affairs 2024-10-05

 

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

IMO Xi has been looking at the USA's record of fomenting wars all over the place, and has decided China better be strong enough to deter the US from even trying it on. Only from a position of strength is China safe.

 

2 hours ago, Social Media said:

The current U.S. defense production system is better suited for peacetime operations, and crucial bottlenecks in munitions and equipment could leave the U.S. at a disadvantage in a protracted conflict, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.

Perhaps if Biden wasn't sending all the ammunition and weapons to israel the US would have enough.

[thaibeachlovers]

2 hours ago, Social Media said:

China’s defense buildup is a warning sign. To ensure its readiness for potential future conflicts, the United States must act quickly to rebuild its military capabilities and safeguard its position on the global stage.

Wonder where the authors think all the money is going to come from, considering the existing debt the US apparently can't pay off.

[Srikcir]

4 hours ago, Social Media said:

the country has taken a wartime stance in its production of weapons and military technology.

Albeit POTUS Biden told Xi (paraphrasing) don't even think about invading Taiwan and he hasn't. Having seen the military power of the US and other democracies beat down Putin's planned two-day invasion of Ukraine into a dragged out years of war and suffering worse losses than it did in WW2, Xi is better off invading Russia and grab its oil fields in Siberia.

 

 

[newbee2022]

If you compare China with US since 1945 it was US, who wasted money in unnecessary und useless wars and unsuccessful CIA activities. And again it's US who drag us in proxy wars in Ukraine and Israel. Hopefully they will not Push us into WW3

[thaibeachlovers]

1 hour ago, Srikcir said:

Albeit POTUS Biden told Xi (paraphrasing) don't even think about invading Taiwan and he hasn't. Having seen the military power of the US and other democracies beat down Putin's planned two-day invasion of Ukraine into a dragged out years of war and suffering worse losses than it did in WW2, Xi is better off invading Russia and grab its oil fields in Siberia.

 

suffering worse losses than it did in WW2

 

Tell me when Russia's losses top 20 million, which is what they lost in WW2. That was a minimum and could have been millions higher.

[Srikcir]

Looking at Russia's progressive scale of losses,  the Ukraine war isn't over.  

[Srikcir]

5 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Tell me when Russia's losses top 20 million, which is what they lost in WW2. That was a minimum and could have been millions higher.

Further researching:

"Why did the USSR lose 14 million soldiers and 20 million in WWII. Was the USSR so weak?"

Carl Hamilton

· - M.S. in Geography & History, Roskilde University (Graduated 2021)

• For starters they did not lose 14 or 20 million soldiers at all. If you go by actual combat casualties, that means soldiers who died in fighting units, they lost 8.66 million soldiers, which is still a lot of soldiers.
• If you go by actual combat casualties, that means soldiers who died in fighting units, they lost 8.66 million soldiers, which is still a lot of soldiers.

Approximately 44.5 percent of the Soviet population and 8.7 of Soviet territory was occupied by the Germans. Before 2022, Russia occupied 42,000 km2 (16,000 sq mi) of Ukrainian territory (Crimea, and parts of Donetsk and Luhansk), and occupied an additional 119,000 km2 (46,000 sq mi) after its full-scale invasion by March 2022, a total of 161,000 km2 (62,000 sq mi) or almost 27% of Ukraine's territory.(Wikipedia). Of course in the Russo-German was the Soviets also fought through nonRussian lands to reach into German. By equal measure Russia should have by now 100% occupied Ukraine and Westward.

The point here is that there are a lot of factors to equalize the differences between the Russo-German war to the Russo-Ukraine war in terms of comparing soldier casualties. And that doesn't begin to address the initial lack of Russian armaments and time for Allies lend/lease of armaments at the beginning of the Russo-German war and the initial losses resulting, unlike the Russo-Ukraine war. 

[Wrwest]

13 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Wonder where the authors think all the money is going to come from, considering the existing debt the US apparently can't pay off.

And that Trump wats to continue or enhance his 2017 tax cuts ...

[Gweiloman]

On 10/5/2024 at 5:37 AM, thaibeachlovers said:

IMO Xi has been looking at the USA's record of fomenting wars all over the place, and has decided China better be strong enough to deter the US from even trying it on. Only from a position of strength is China safe.

 

This is of course obvious to anyone that doesn’t swallow the US propaganda that China is a threat. China is a threat only to US hegemony insofar as its citizens are extremely hardworking and want to make a better life for themselves and their families. China, unlike the US, has no interest to dominate the world militarily. History has proven that time and time again.

[Gweiloman]

On 10/5/2024 at 8:09 AM, Srikcir said:

Albeit POTUS Biden told Xi (paraphrasing) don't even think about invading Taiwan and he hasn't. Having seen the military power of the US and other democracies beat down Putin's planned two-day invasion of Ukraine into a dragged out years of war and suffering worse losses than it did in WW2, Xi is better off invading Russia and grab its oil fields in Siberia.

 

 

The reason that China hasn’t invaded Taiwan is because it has no desire in doing so. XJP doesn’t give a hoot about what Biden says. China had effectively cut off communication with the states since Pelosi’s visit and it is only in face of relentless pleading from the US that communications were resumed.

 

US military power have suffered humiliation after humiliation. It’s effective only against adversaries that are unable to fight back It’s a sure sign of their desperation that they had to resort to spreading propaganda about the duration of the conflict when it was in fact the US themselves that said it and not Putin.

[thaibeachlovers]

1 hour ago, Gweiloman said:

US military power have suffered humiliation after humiliation. It’s effective only against adversaries that are unable to fight back

Some truth to that.

Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, and they didn't even win in Korea.

They can't even win a proxy war in Ukraine.

 

However, they did great against Grenada and Panama.

[Srikcir]

21 hours ago, Gweiloman said:

The reason that China hasn’t invaded Taiwan is because it has no desire in doing so.

Because it would experience a 'smack-down' by the US and Japan.

"Why China remains unlikely to invade Taiwan", April 17, 2024 https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/why-china-remains-unlikely-invade-taiwan

• Beijing’s attempts to intimidate the US government into abandoning support for Taiwan have failed. Helping Taiwan to defend itself  remains bipartisan US policy, even supported by Republican Party politicians who want to stop arming Ukraine. Despite the longstanding US policy of “strategic ambiguity”, President Joe Biden has publicly stated four times that US forces would intervene in Taiwan’s defence.
• Even with China’s massive arsenal of modern warships, combat aircraft and missiles, Beijing is nowhere near the level of superiority that would guarantee a successful invasion given the probability of US and Japanese military resistance.

"Taiwan military says China lacks ability to invade, but has other options," August 30, 2024

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taiwan-ministry-says-china-lacks-ability-invade-has-other-options-2024-08-30/

• China lacks the ability to "fully" invade Taiwan as it does not have the equipment, but is bringing on line advanced new weapons and has other options to threaten Taiwan

"Yes, Japan Will Defend Taiwan," May 18, 2024 https://thediplomat.com/2024/05/yes-japan-will-defend-taiwan/

• "Should Beijing decide to unify Taiwan by force, Japan’s strategic interest, deep affinity for the Taiwanese, and security alliance with the United States will compel Tokyo to defend its southern neighbor. For Japan, peace in the Taiwan Strait is a matter of national survival."

Like sex, you can have desire but not the follow thru.

[Tug]

22 hours ago, Gweiloman said:

The reason that China hasn’t invaded Taiwan is because it has no desire in doing so. XJP doesn’t give a hoot about what Biden says. China had effectively cut off communication with the states since Pelosi’s visit and it is only in face of relentless pleading from the US that communications were resumed.

 

US military power have suffered humiliation after humiliation. It’s effective only against adversaries that are unable to fight back It’s a sure sign of their desperation that they had to resort to spreading propaganda about the duration of the conflict when it was in fact the US themselves that said it and not Putin.

Now there’s the mother of all porkeys!!!

[Gweiloman]

1 hour ago, Srikcir said:

Because it would experience a 'smack-down' by the US and Japan.

"Why China remains unlikely to invade Taiwan", April 17, 2024 https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/why-china-remains-unlikely-invade-taiwan

• Beijing’s attempts to intimidate the US government into abandoning support for Taiwan have failed. Helping Taiwan to defend itself  remains bipartisan US policy, even supported by Republican Party politicians who want to stop arming Ukraine. Despite the longstanding US policy of “strategic ambiguity”, President Joe Biden has publicly stated four times that US forces would intervene in Taiwan’s defence.
• Even with China’s massive arsenal of modern warships, combat aircraft and missiles, Beijing is nowhere near the level of superiority that would guarantee a successful invasion given the probability of US and Japanese military resistance.

"Taiwan military says China lacks ability to invade, but has other options," August 30, 2024

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taiwan-ministry-says-china-lacks-ability-invade-has-other-options-2024-08-30/

• China lacks the ability to "fully" invade Taiwan as it does not have the equipment, but is bringing on line advanced new weapons and has other options to threaten Taiwan

"Yes, Japan Will Defend Taiwan," May 18, 2024 https://thediplomat.com/2024/05/yes-japan-will-defend-taiwan/

• "Should Beijing decide to unify Taiwan by force, Japan’s strategic interest, deep affinity for the Taiwanese, and security alliance with the United States will compel Tokyo to defend its southern neighbor. For Japan, peace in the Taiwan Strait is a matter of national survival."

Like sex, you can have desire but not the follow thru.

I would believe it more if you could have provided links to non biased, western sources. In fact, many western think tanks have simulated war games and in practicality every instance, China wins.

 

And if you think that China is afraid of Japan, a couple of nuclear bombs should put that to rest. Fortunately for Japan though, China has a strict no first use policy.

 

So, as stated previously, China has no desire to invade Taiwan. It would be bad for business. Majority of Taiwanese are Han Chinese, same as for China. China is not a war mongering nation, unlike the US and Japan.

[Srikcir]

9 hours ago, Gweiloman said:

I would believe it more if you could have provided links to non biased, western sources. In fact, many western think tanks have simulated war games and in practicality every instance, China wins.

If you could have provided ANY links you might be believable. I went first.

As it is:

"Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), one of the world’s largest and leading chip manufacturers alongside South Korea’s Samsung. TSMC produces 90 percent of the world’s most advanced chips, with the PRC relying on the Republic of China for 60 percent of chip imports.

Taiwan’s “silicon shield” ... has created a status quo that deters China from forcefully taking over the island."  https://www.fpri.org/article/2024/06/chinas-defiant-chip-strategy/

 

[sscc]

3 hours ago, Srikcir said:

If you could have provided ANY links you might be believable. I went first.

As it is:

"Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), one of the world’s largest and leading chip manufacturers alongside South Korea’s Samsung. TSMC produces 90 percent of the world’s most advanced chips, with the PRC relying on the Republic of China for 60 percent of chip imports.

Taiwan’s “silicon shield” ... has created a status quo that deters China from forcefully taking over the island."  https://www.fpri.org/article/2024/06/chinas-defiant-chip-strategy/

 

 

Understanding of history and geo-politics and common sense is enough to predict future of Taiwan.   Forget whatever link to media. 

 

Mainland China will definitely take and integrate Taiwan down the road.   

How to do it ?   When to do it ?   Uncertain and no answer,  period. 

[Gweiloman]

14 hours ago, Srikcir said:

If you could have provided ANY links you might be believable. I went first.

As it is:

"Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), one of the world’s largest and leading chip manufacturers alongside South Korea’s Samsung. TSMC produces 90 percent of the world’s most advanced chips, with the PRC relying on the Republic of China for 60 percent of chip imports.

Taiwan’s “silicon shield” ... has created a status quo that deters China from forcefully taking over the island."  https://www.fpri.org/article/2024/06/chinas-defiant-chip-strategy/

 

This adds weight to my argument that China has no desire to invade Taiwan. 

[Gweiloman]

11 hours ago, sscc said:

 

Understanding of history and geo-politics and common sense is enough to predict future of Taiwan.   Forget whatever link to media. 

 

Mainland China will definitely take and integrate Taiwan down the road.   

How to do it ?   When to do it ?   Uncertain and no answer,  period. 

For sure, it won’t be a military invasion. This is detrimental to both China’s and Taiwan’s interests. 
 

The mainland Chinese and Taiwanese have relatives on both sides. Lots of inter-marriages as well. Integration would happen naturally. Taiwanese, being ethnic Chinese, are a practical and pragmatic people. As the west declines and China continues to rise, it’s in their interest to lean more towards China for its prosperity and security. 
 

I imagine that it will take some form of autonomous region, with its own governance while deferring to the central government in Beijing.

[sscc]

 Chip manufacturing company TSMC is not relevant to this subject at hand. 

 

ROC Taipei Government vows to take and integrate Mainland. 

PRC Beijing Government vows to take and integrate Taiwan. 

Both sides have been willing and committed since early 1950's ,   TSMC was not even formed in those days. 

TSMC story is merely deflective narrative of Western media to fool the uninformed. 

 

 Beijing will take and integrate Taiwan in future,   with or without TSMC in Taiwan Formosa  Island.