Staff Reports
Recognizing China as the leading threat to the US, the Biden administration's strategy has acknowledged the risks associated with the country.
This is due to the growing number of warnings about China's increasing assertiveness toward Taiwan. As a result, the US military has started to believe that China is likely to launch a major attack on the island within the next couple of years. To prevent this, the US must have the necessary resources and capabilities to counter the attack. Unfortunately, the Biden administration is not taking any immediate action to prepare for war.
Despite the criticisms about the China policy, it is still not entirely wrong for the president to acknowledge the growing threat from China. Biden deserves credit for his efforts in preventing the country from acquiring advanced semiconductor technology.
Despite the positive steps taken by the US in addressing the China issue, it is still not entirely clear how effective the strategy will be. Aside from maintaining pressure on China, the country also needs to be properly resourced.
The ongoing war in Ukraine has depleted the country's stocks of weapons and supplies. Although the US has provided Ukraine with a huge amount of supplies, this provision has also led to the depletion of its stocks. When it comes to the potential conflict with China, the US is most concerned about its multiple stockpile deficits related to its various weapon systems, such as the Hellfire missiles and the portable anti-tank weapons.
The Biden administration should have authorized a comprehensive crash investment program to address the country's weapons stocks. However, instead, it has been sending high-end warfighting assets to Europe, such as the F-22 fighter jets and Navy destroyers.
The delays in the development of the F-35 fighter jet and the construction of the country's warships are also contributing to the lack of confidence regarding the US' ability to effectively fight a potential conflict with China. In addition, the country's stockpiles of anti-ship missiles, which are very important for any potential conflict with China, are not enough to provide the necessary boost to the military's combat power.
It would be unfair to blame Joe Biden alone for the country's current weapons shortages. Instead, it is up to the commander-in-chief to address the country's problems. Unfortunately, some Republican congressmen, such as Rob Wittman and John Rutherford, are doing the Navy a great injustice by forcing it to retain outdated warships.
As the president prepares to deliver his State of the Union speech, it is important that he makes a significant increase in the country's readiness for war. This will allow the US to deter and maximize its victory in any potential conflict.
The preceding is a summary of an article that originally appeared on Washington Examiner.
