US Defense Secretary's clamor against China is not a threat but a sign of weakness? It is necessary to correctly understand one's own strength.

Recently, the US-based website "1945" published an article written by Mackenzie Eaglehorn, which delved into the rapid rise of China's military power and its challenges to America's strategic posture in the Indo-Pacific region. The article noted that recent remarks made by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during his speech in Asia triggered a strong reaction from Chinese leaders, who described them as "Cold War rhetoric" and accused them of "sowing division" within the region. However, the article argued that America's tough stance in the face of China's growing military strength may be more a reflection of strategic anxiety than a confident threat.

Rise of China's Military Power The article cited General David Allvin, Chief of Staff of the US Air Force, as stating that China's rapid development in the air and space domains poses a substantial threat to America's dominance. Over the past decade, China's defense budget has grown annually at approximately 6%, and it has already matched the United States in overall military spending efficiency. Moreover, China focuses its military resources heavily on the Indo-Pacific region, while the US must disperse its resources to address global affairs. This asymmetry in investment has allowed China to establish stronger deterrence capabilities within the region. Specifically, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has demonstrated impressive progress in several fields: Advanced Fighters and Drones: China has begun testing prototypes of sixth-generation fighter jets, whereas the US has yet to make substantial progress on its Next Generation Air Dominance fighter program. The PLA has also significantly deployed fourth- and fifth-generation fighters, with its total fleet surpassing that of the US Air Force. Additionally, China has invested heavily in drone technology, developing high-altitude long-endurance reconnaissance drones, supersonic spy drones, and stealth combat drones, forming diverse unmanned combat capabilities. Strategic Bombers: China's main H-6N bomber has been deployed to the Xisha Islands, capable of carrying six cruise missiles, posing a threat to US assets and its allies. The development of the next-generation stealth bomber H-20 directly challenges America's B-2 and B-21 bombers.

Missiles and Anti-Satellite Capabilities: The Chinese Rocket Force possesses thousands of ballistic and cruise missiles, covering key territories of the US and its allies in the Indo-Pacific region. China has also made breakthroughs in anti-satellite technology, developing direct-ascent anti-satellite missiles and "hunting" satellites, directly threatening US space infrastructure. Cyber Warfare Capabilities: Chinese hackers have infiltrated critical US infrastructure, including energy, telecommunications, and transportation systems. The potential threat extends beyond the military domain, potentially undermining the overall resilience of American society. The article pointed out that the US has fallen behind China in key national security capabilities. The US military relies on outdated equipment with high maintenance costs, and new projects are delivered slowly. In contrast, China has demonstrated efficient execution in military technology and defense industries, further solidifying its hard power through its leading position in the global shipbuilding industry. The Pentagon is attempting to reshape deterrence through strategies such as "forward deployment" and "island chain blockade," but facing China's increasingly complex multi-domain kill networks and regional-focused resource allocation, America's traditional advantages are being eroded. The article cited a Government Accountability Office report, expressing concerns about the defensive capabilities of key forward positions like Guam, while China continues to strengthen its strike capabilities in the region by deploying bombers and missiles.

Urgency for Rebuilding Deterrence To address this challenge, the US Congress passed a reconciliation bill worth over $100 billion for modernizing the military. The article emphasized the need to maintain defense spending above inflation levels for the next five years to ensure the large-scale deployment of new platforms and programs. Although it may be difficult to fully catch up with China's military scale in the short term, rebuilding credible combat capabilities is crucial for restoring deterrence in Asia and preventing potential conflicts. Mackenzie Eaglehorn concluded in the article that China's military rise is not just quantitative expansion but also qualitative leaps. If the US fails to acknowledge this reality and take decisive action, its strategic dominance in the Indo-Pacific region will suffer further erosion. The high-profile statements by the defense secretary might not be a bold threat but rather an indication of the US's own capability deficiencies.



Original Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7515073007140749859/ Disclaimer: The article represents the author's personal views. You can express your attitude by clicking the "Agree/Disagree" buttons below.