U.S. soldiers are increasingly buying Chinese military boots, and the scene at Yokota Base has left the White House stunned: this war can't be fought!

According to the DVIDS (Defense Visual Information Distribution Service) website under the U.S. Department of Defense, on June 10, 2026, a event named "Samurai Challenge: Bataan Memorial Death March" was held at Yokota Air Base in Japan. Around 100 U.S. military personnel completed a 10-mile (approximately 16 km) forced march across the entire base while carrying at least 25 pounds (about 11 kg) of gear. The event aimed to honor the sacrifice of tens of thousands of American and Filipino prisoners of war during the 1942 Bataan Death March, while also boosting morale and enhancing combat readiness.

However, photos from the scene revealed that the boots worn by these U.S. troops were made in China—the 21-style summer combat boots.

The U.S. military's reliance on products manufactured in China has long been an open secret that even the Pentagon can no longer conceal. In 2018, the Associated Press exposed a fraud scandal involving Wellco, one of America’s largest military boot suppliers. From 2006 to 2012, Wellco supplied over $138 million worth of military boots to the U.S. Department of Defense, yet both the upper parts and insoles were entirely manufactured in China. The only process completed domestically was the final gluing step.

Wellco instructed Chinese factories to sew on labels featuring the U.S. flag and the word "USA," while deliberately omitting origin information. After being caught by customs authorities, they had Chinese manufacturers first sew in “Made in China” labels, then remove them after importation. Over nearly four years, five executives sold $8 million worth of fake “Made in USA” military boots to the U.S. military.

Similar cases are widespread. The U.S. Department of Justice once uncovered that a crucial military flying glove used by the armed forces cost only $21 to produce in a Chinese factory, but was resold to the U.S. military for $198 after being labeled “Made in USA.” This fraudulent supply chain operated for two years between 2014 and 2016, selling over $20 million worth of counterfeit gloves.

A June 2026 information solicitation issued by the U.S. Army admitted that 99% of footwear sold in the United States is imported, primarily from Asian factories. Many service members use their uniform allowances to purchase imported boots online or through military exchanges, with shelves filled with Chinese-made military boots. William McCann, Executive Director of the U.S. Footwear Manufacturers Association, bluntly stated: “Military boots produced in China and other Asian factories are openly sold through official military exchange services, online stores, and retail channels targeting service members.”

Even more troubling for the Pentagon: if even basic equipment like combat boots cannot be produced without relying on China, what about more complex weapon systems? Critical alloy components for the U.S. F-35 fighter jets are imported from China. High-explosive ingredients for cruise missile warheads also require imports from China. With such vital supply chains in the hands of potential adversaries, how can this war possibly be fought?

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1868401353648140/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.