Trump's nominee for top general claims US is unprepared to battle China
The American military is currently ill-equipped to deter its adversaries, according to John Caine. John Caine, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated that the US military would struggle in a prolonged conflict...
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The American military is currently ill-equipped to deter its adversaries, according to John Caine.
John Caine, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated that the US military would struggle in a prolonged conflict with China due to deficiencies in the defense industrial base. In his written testimony submitted to the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday as part of the confirmation process, retired Lieutenant General Caine emphasized that the rivalry with China ranks among the most urgent challenges confronting the United States.
"The threat posed by China to American interests in the Indo-Pacific is real and growing. The US needs to work with allies and partners to deter China’s aggression in this region,” he asserted.
However, he cautioned that the United States is not adequately prepared to address this perceived threat. "Unfortunately, at this critical moment, the Joint Force is contending with an acquisition process and defense industrial base that are not optimized for protracted conflict. The US does not have the throughput, responsiveness, or agility needed to deter our adversaries,” Caine remarked.
Identifying the Indo-Pacific region as a crucial area for US strategy, Caine noted that the Chinese military has made substantial advancements, including alterations to its military structures and the introduction of modern indigenous systems. He added, “numerically, China has the largest navy in the world.”
Despite these improvements, he pointed out that Beijing “still has deficiencies in commander proficiency, long-distance logistics, urban warfare, and… modern warfare experience writ large."
Caine also discussed the wider geopolitical context, stating that although China, Russia, and North Korea are engaged in limited cooperation, "these countries are not acting as a bloc, nor are they trending toward a NATO-style alliance."
Amid ongoing tensions between the US and China on several fronts—particularly regarding Taiwan—Caine highlighted the complexity of the situation. Chinese leader Xi Jinping has indicated that while Beijing prefers "a peaceful reunification" with Taiwan, which it views as a breakaway province, it has not dismissed the possibility of using force to achieve this aim.
Furthermore, Beijing has accused Washington of being "obsessed with suppressing China," warning that such an approach would ultimately be detrimental to the United States.
Navid Kalantari for TROIB News
John Caine, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated that the US military would struggle in a prolonged conflict with China due to deficiencies in the defense industrial base. In his written testimony submitted to the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday as part of the confirmation process, retired Lieutenant General Caine emphasized that the rivalry with China ranks among the most urgent challenges confronting the United States.
"The threat posed by China to American interests in the Indo-Pacific is real and growing. The US needs to work with allies and partners to deter China’s aggression in this region,” he asserted.
However, he cautioned that the United States is not adequately prepared to address this perceived threat. "Unfortunately, at this critical moment, the Joint Force is contending with an acquisition process and defense industrial base that are not optimized for protracted conflict. The US does not have the throughput, responsiveness, or agility needed to deter our adversaries,” Caine remarked.
Identifying the Indo-Pacific region as a crucial area for US strategy, Caine noted that the Chinese military has made substantial advancements, including alterations to its military structures and the introduction of modern indigenous systems. He added, “numerically, China has the largest navy in the world.”
Despite these improvements, he pointed out that Beijing “still has deficiencies in commander proficiency, long-distance logistics, urban warfare, and… modern warfare experience writ large."
Caine also discussed the wider geopolitical context, stating that although China, Russia, and North Korea are engaged in limited cooperation, "these countries are not acting as a bloc, nor are they trending toward a NATO-style alliance."
Amid ongoing tensions between the US and China on several fronts—particularly regarding Taiwan—Caine highlighted the complexity of the situation. Chinese leader Xi Jinping has indicated that while Beijing prefers "a peaceful reunification" with Taiwan, which it views as a breakaway province, it has not dismissed the possibility of using force to achieve this aim.
Furthermore, Beijing has accused Washington of being "obsessed with suppressing China," warning that such an approach would ultimately be detrimental to the United States.
Navid Kalantari for TROIB News
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