The U.S. military has a lot of work to do to catch up to China, according to a new government report.
The Government Accountability Office released a National Security Snapshot of the pacing challenge with China earlier this week that found “China’s growing economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power … pose a significant long-term challenge to the United States.”
Areas of concern highlighted in the report include space and undersea operations, cyber, artificial intelligence, and “area-denial,” which is described as China’s expansion of its capabilities to “counter third party intervention during a large-scale, theater campaign such as a Taiwan contingency.”
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The Chinese military has upped incursions into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone in recent months, demonstrating an increased level of aggression. The Chinese government maintains that Taiwan is a part of the mainland, while the Taiwanese believe they are a self-ruled island. The United States has not recognized Taiwan’s independence, though it has provided support to prevent a Chinese attack.
“Successful preparation for strategic competition with China will depend on continuing efforts to increase U.S. combat credibility and enhance conventional deterrence that can help prevent conflict, protect U.S. interests, and assure allies,” the report read. “Going forward, key policy considerations include ensuring that DOD is prepared to maintain supply chains, gather intelligence, and responsibly leverage emerging space, cyber, and AI technologies in response to potential threats.”
China’s military is ahead of the U.S. specifically as it relates to the development of hypersonic technology.
The Chinese military has accelerated the pace of its nuclear expansion program to the point where it could “have up to 700 deliverable nuclear warheads” within roughly five years, according to the Defense Department’s Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China report, released at the beginning of November.
The GAO report also noted that China “will continue to pursue capabilities to counter U.S. power projection,” so “DOD needs specific measures and milestones to gauge progress of preparations for operational access challenges or it may not operate effectively in future operating environments.”
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Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Deputy Secretary Dr. Kathleen Hicks recently met with more than a dozen industry leaders to promote the development of hypersonic defensive weaponry last week.
Gillian Bussey, the director of the Pentagon’s Joint Hypersonics Transition Office, said around the time of the meeting that the U.S. military has “chosen to focus on offense first” as it relates to hypersonics “because a good offense is the best defense and offense is a lot easier.”
