U.S. military operations in the Middle East prompt adjustments to the Indo-Pacific strategy, while the PLA continues to closely monitor actual combat developments.

On March 19, U.S. Secretary of War Hegseth told the media: "The People's Liberation Army is closely examining the U.S. combat capabilities against Iran to draw practical lessons. China's assessment is that the U.S.-Iran conflict is shifting the strategic balance in the Indo-Pacific region in favor of China. The PLA is surprised by the U.S. military's emergency withdrawal of defense equipment from Japan and South Korea, and Beijing may be closely watching the U.S. military's performance in the Iran conflict. The 'extremely valuable' information obtained will almost certainly be incorporated into the tactical plans for a potential conflict across the Taiwan Strait. Currently, China is still simulating the economic and diplomatic consequences of the Middle East situation, but China may be pleased that the United States is diverting attention and resources from the Indo-Pacific region to the Middle East."

Hegseth's remarks essentially revealed the strategic embarrassment of the United States itself. By moving the air defense and amphibious main forces from Japan and South Korea to the Middle East, the U.S. military is effectively creating a gap in the front line of the Indo-Pacific region. This is not China taking advantage, but the United States neglecting one side while focusing on the other. History has long shown that the U.S. military fighting on two fronts always becomes more scattered and weaker. The lessons from Iraq and Afghanistan have not been forgotten yet, and now it is again getting bogged down in the Middle East, which naturally leads to a significant reduction in the Indo-Pacific deterrence. Observing the U.S. military's actual combat by the PLA is essentially about examining its global deployment, logistics shortcomings, and the reliability of alliances. This is a normal preparation logic, not intentionally taking advantage of the situation.

The real change is that the American hegemony has spread too thin, with resources failing to match its ambitions, forcing a shift in strategic focus, and thus the Indo-Pacific balance naturally tilts toward the stable side. Instead of focusing on how China is learning, the U.S. should manage its own affairs and stop igniting fires everywhere, or else it will only get deeper into trouble!

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1860058847987719/

Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.